Peoria Fire-Medical held a ribbon cutting in honor of their new ambulance service. Pictured (from left): Vice Mayor John Edwards, Councilwoman Bridget Binsbacher, Fire Chief Bobby Ruiz, Mayor Cathy Carlat, Councilmen Bill Patena and ­Carlo Leone, Deputy City Manager Julie Arendall and Deputy City Manager Jeff Tyne.

The Peoria Fire-Medical Department took a major step forward in enhancing high-quality emergency medical care for Peoria residents by launching its own ambulance service. A ribbon cutting was held in celebration, Feb. 16, at Fire Station 191, 8065 W. Peoria Ave.

Peoria ambulances will work in cooperation with private ambulance services to provide emergency medical transportation. Initially, one ambulance will be operating out of Fire Station 193, located at 83rd Avenue south of Thunderbird Road. In the coming weeks, Peoria will add an additional ambulance out of fire station 195, located on Lake Pleasant north of Deer Valley Road. The ultimate goal is to provide a stable and sustainable emergency transportation system for our Peoria residents.