City's Ambulance To Be Kept at Station Two for Easier Access

Mackinac Island's ambulance will be parked at Fire Station Two near Surrey Hill so the crew can get it to Harrisonville more quickly. It had been parked at the Medical Center downtown.

"There were a bunch of runs in Harrisonville this summer, especially during the month of August," said Fire Chief Dennis Bradley, which prompted the move.

Most of the emergency medical technicians live in Harrisonville and, on night runs, had to bicycle downtown to the Medical Center to get the ambulance, then drive it back to the village in response to a call for help.

"They were dodging heavy traffic on their bikes all the time, trying to get to the ambulance," said Mr. Bradley.

The city will also discuss implementing an emergency response communication procedure, consisting of three alert levels.

During a city public safety committee meeting Tuesday, September 5, committee member Jason St. Onge suggested a three-level plan of alert.

Level One, he said, would involve an emergency where only the fire department and police department would be called. Level Two would involve contacting the two departments and the mayor, and Level Three would involve contacting all emergency response departments and property owners who may be affected by the emergency.

Police Chief William Lenaghan said the policy would strengthen the Island's emergency response.

"It would be good to put such a policy in place so people will know what is going on and what to do quickly," he said.