Despite funding challenges in operating the services, International Falls will spend almost $900 thousand on new ambulances.

Mayor Harley Droba says it is a sign the city will maintain the service.

“We understand how important it is, and we do have aging infrastructure. We have pushed it off for a long time. The conversation at the committee of the whole was to purchase two ambulances now and as we work our budget for 2025 to anticipate purchasing one more ambulance,” says Droba.

The cost of each rig carries a price tag of about $280 thousand.

Fire chief Adam Mannaussau says it takes about two years for each vehicle to be completely constructed and fitted for service.

The first two will replace existing vehicles that will be ten years old when the new ones arrive.

There are two other units purchased in 2017 and 2020 that will have between 185,000 and 260,000 miles by 2028.