New ambulance company building
 officially dedicated

(2/7) The new Emmitsburg Ambulance Company building is now officially open for business following the ribbon cutting and grand opening on Jan. 27.

“We started working out of here just before Christmas,” said Beth Ruppel, a volunteer with the company.

That followed a couple weeks of moving equipment from the old station on South Seton to the new location at 17701 Creamery Road. Company members say the new location has excellent access to Route 15.

“You don’t have to fight the red lights and congestion,” said Keith Phelps, an Emmitsburg Ambulance volunteer.

Construction of the $2.3-million station began in June 2006. Besides enlarged bays that can hold up to five vehicles and equipment rooms, the new station also features a large public room that seats 380 people and has a commercial kitchen. It can be rented out for parties and dances.

“We’ve already done a wedding reception and a funeral,” said John Ruppel, an Emmitsburg Ambulance volunteer.

Some of the other features of the new building include a repair shop for minor repairs on the ambulances, a decontamination room, a room for all of the medical equipment the paramedics use. On the second floor of the building are the bunkrooms, meeting rooms and a weight room given to the company by the Emmitsburg American Legion and VFW.

“We will also be a disaster shelter as soon as we get our generator,” Beth Ruppel said.

The former ambulance company building will become a Frederick County Fire Museum and a National Fire Heritage Center that houses records and documents from fire companies across the country.