PETERSBURG, Va. (WTVR)--Fire and EMS crews across Central Virginia are paying close attention to an incident that recently happened in Washington D.C.
An ambulance with a patient on board was en route to the hospital, when the engine shut down. Some think it has to do with an emissions device that uses a special fluid to help reduce harmful exhaust emissions.
It is a device that can be found on many diesel engines built starting in 2010.
For the past year in Petersburg, Southside Virginia Emergency Crew has two new ambulances on the road,
Both use Diesel exhaust fluid and both have worked flawlessly since going into service.
Bubby Bish, Director of of Operations for SVEC says they have daily maintenance as well as monthly and a six month program, to ensure everything is working properly.
Chesterfield County has nearly a dozen ambulances using DEF devices and have not had any problems.
In Colonial Heights, their new heavy rescue truck uses DEF and they also have a daily and month check list to make sure the manufacturers recommendations are being followed.
Both on Colonial Heights Fire Truck and on the SVEC ambulances, there are gauges indicating DEF levels.
Bish says there are also warning lights if the fluid gets too low.
