The Kenosha Fire Department is adding an additional active ambulance to its services, without buying any additional equipment or adding any personnel.

The department began running the fifth ambulance from Fire Station No. 2, 8530 30th Ave., on Monday. This also marks the first time an ambulance will be operating out of Station No. 2.

Kenosha Fire Chief John Thomsen said several studies showed the need for an additional ambulance. Thomsen said ambulances were often being called away from their base stations to handle other calls, and an additional ambulance could help provide better coverage.

“We realized that in order for us to enhance our level of service and keep the medical units in their district more often that it was necessary to activate a fifth ambulance,” Thomsen said.

That fifth ambulance is being used for reserve purposes. The ambulance may be unavailable for regular service if it is needed to fill in for another ambulance.

Thomsen said the vehicle can handle its prescribed use.

“This ambulance has quite a bit of miles on it, but it will hold up to daily activity,” Thomsen said. “It can’t handle 14 calls a day, seven days a week, but it is meeting the needs we have identified.”

The ambulance will be staffed only on days when 39 people are on duty for the department.

“We found a way to add a fifth ambulance that maintains our current level of staffing at no cost to citizens,” Thomsen said.

The ambulance requires two paramedics and one emergency medical technician. Thomsen said it was difficult to predict how often staffing would allow the ambulance to run, due to factors such as sick leave, vacations and other approved absences.

Kenosha Fire Battalion Chief Matt Haerter lauded the move, noting that it’s not uncommon for all four of the city’s ambulances to be on calls simultaneously.

“It gives us one more piece of fire apparatus on the road, and we have more resources than we normally would,” Haerter said. “We are very confident that this unit being in service will be a benefit to the community.”

The move is part of a pilot program, and the department will monitor the results.

“If it is deemed to provide a positive impact, we will attempt to maintain the fifth ambulance as long as there is minimal cost associated (it),” Thomsen said.

Thomsen said it would be up to the mayor and aldermen if the fifth ambulance becomes a permanent addition.