New FDNY MERV Vehicles/Haz-Tac Ambulances

[N1Medic 69]

Today at work, somebody mentioned FDNY is going to be recieiving several new Mobile Emergency Room Vehicles (MERV's) that will look like school buses.

Also, heard that they are currently spec'ing special Haz-Tac ambulances that will be larger to allow for room to store the haz mat gear?

Anyone have any further info on either two units?

[tbendick 27]

OK.. Yes this info is true but first lets clear things up...

Since the creation of FDNY EMS:

MERV is no longer a

Emergency Room Vehicles

They are now a

Major Emergency Response Vehicle

There are currently two of these units in service with FDNY. MERV-1 at Battalion 8 and MERV-4 out in Queens.

MERV-1 runs 24 hours with a dedicated staff and is a custom designed unit.

MERV-4 is not staffed full time but is staffed by LSU-4 or a unit we be called to come pick it up. During some events and alert levels this becomes 24hours dedicated. MERV-4 was built by the Shops out of a old School bus. It realy isn't a bad unit at all, a good amount of room and is setup pretty good.

FDNY has two MERV's on order, I would have to look up who is making them. Also don't know the time frame for getting these units. They will most likely goto MERV-1 and MERV-4 with one of the older ones becoming a spare and one a reserve or something.

HAZTAC units

FDNY is working on plans for a larger FDNY Haztac ambulances. No Details on it, and as of last I head these plans are on hold..

[Truck4 48]

As of March 2004, the FDNY shops were expecting at least one of the new MERVs to be in this year. As per the shops, the Haz Tac units were nothing more than an idea at that time.