A custom-built ambulance arrived in Surf City last week, destination the firehouse between Seventh and Eighth streets. Its purpose is twofold: replace its nearly three-decade old predecessor and continue to provide emergency medical services for the community when the day, or night, just doesn’t go as planned.

“The thing about emergency vehicles (aging out) isn’t miles,” said Brian Stasik, assistant EMS chief for the Surf City Volunteer Fire Co. and EMS. “It’s the run time on the motor.”

Whenever an EMS crew rolls up to a call, the ambulance is kept idling for long stretches of time so all the electronic…