The Knoxville Fire and Rescue Department received their brand new ambulance on Thursday afternoon. The new vehicle comes after an increasing amount of calls for service in recent years. Interim Fire Chief and EMS Coordinator Greg Higginbotham says what’s particularly challenging is the number of transports that Knoxville ambulances have been doing. Many patients are transported out of town to Pella, Des Moines, or even Iowa City, leaving just one ambulance in town for extended periods of time.

Higginbotham says that with three ambulances in the rotation, they’ll dedicate one specifically for transports, allowing the others to stay lower on mileage and overall wear-and-tear.

The new ambulance also features a Panther logo within its crest.