It was only in late afternoon when the other ambulance was taken from the auto shop where it was brought for repairs.
A firefighter expressed his frustration to the Variety about this “sad situation.”
Saipan, he said, used to have six ambulances but now they could hardly respond to an emergency.
The ambulances are also being used to transport discharged patients from the Commonwealth Health Center.
The personnel who used to man the ambulances are now assigned to other departments, said the firefighter who declined to be identified.
“This is a very serious problem that the government needs to look into,” he said.
Saipan also lacks fire trucks, he added.
There are fire stations on Saipan that don’t have fire trucks.
In Koblerville, he said they have one ambulance but no fire truck.
There’s one fire truck each for San Roque and Kagman.
In Susupe, they use a rescue truck instead of an ambulance.
Their drinking water at their office is no longer free, the firefighter said.
Starting next week, he added, they have to buy their own soap and toilet paper.
