By Alan M. Petrillo
AEV built this Type 1 ambulance on a Ford F-450 X series two door cab and 4×2 chassis for Birmingham (AL) Fire Department. (Photos courtesy of Birmingham Fire Department.)
A new American Emergency Vehicles (AEV) Type 1 ambulance built for the Birmingham (AL) Fire Department was a featured rig at the Terex Ambulance Group’s AEV booth at FDIC International 2026.
Wayne Shepard, territory manager for Southern Emergency Rescue Vehicle Sales (SERVS) says Birmingham’s rig is the fifth AEV Type 1 delivered to the fire department this year and halfway to fulfilling the department’s 10-truck order. “This AEV is built on a Ford F-450 X series two-door cab and 4×2 chassis with a 169-inch wheelbase and a 96-inch-wide by 157-inch-long body with 72 inches of headroom and a 6-inch body drop on both sides,” he points out.
The new AEV rig for Birmingham has an Arctic Wedge air conditioning condenser, a hot weather insulation package, and an electronic air filtration system.
Jonathan Danzer, captain of Birmingham Fire’s emergency medical services (EMS) division, says the new rig has a door-forward design on the curbside entry door, “which allows us to free up more storage space on the interior and reorganize it to fit our work flow. We also have a dedicated exterior compartment that’s vented to the outside, which holds the crew’s fire turnout gear and self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).”
Danzer adds that Birmingham had AEV install Onspot tire chains, a feature it has used on its ambulances since a big ice storm hit in the area in 1993, as well as a Liquid Spring rear suspension, which it has used for 20 years or more, and a Ranch Hand bumper guard.
The interior of the new rig has four seating positions, including two squad bench seats, which are all protected by Per4Max harness systems.
He notes that the department has 32 stations that cover 151 square miles with a residential population of 194,400 persons that swells to 1 million persons during the day because of the city’s numerous hospitals, industry and universities.
Birmingham paramedics set up the rig prior to a call.
Randy Barr, AEV’s director of sales, says Birmingham’s new rig has a V8 gasoline engine, a Vanner Lifesine inverter/battery charger, a Class 1 electrical system, a Kussmaul auto eject shore line, embossed diamond plate for all stepping surfaces to allow sure footing, an Arctic Wedge air conditioning condenser and a hot weather insulation package, an electronic air filtration system, electric door locks on the entry doors, a Zico electric oxygen cylinder lift, and Auto Shade privacy windows.
A Birmingham paramedic restocks a drawer at the head of the squad bench.
Shepard notes that the unit has seamless upholstery on all of its seats, which are protected by Per4Max four-point harness systems, composite flooring inside the patient box, a child’s safety seat integral with the EVS executive attendant’s seat, a Stryker PowerLOAD and Power COT, a Stryker stair chair, a TecNiq bracket for a LifePak 35, recessed IV hooks, antimicrobial grab handles, a refrigerator for pharmaceuticals and whole blood, and interior restocking windows on interior cabinets.
Lighting on the new Type 1 includes Whelen M9 LED warning and scene lights around all four sides of the top of the patient box, LED rail and running board lights, and LED perimeter lighting on interior cabinets.
ALAN M. PETRILLO is a Tucson, Arizona-based journalist who has served as a newspaper reporter, editor, and magazine writer and is a member of the Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Advisory Board. He served 22 years with the Verdoy (NY) Fire Department, including in the position of chief.
