CHRISTIANSTED — The Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services on today welcomed seven new ambulances into frontline service, a major expansion of the territory’s emergency medical response capacity and the most significant fleet addition since the beginning of 2017.
VIFEMS held an ambulance blessing ceremony today, Friday, Jan. 16, at the David C. Canegata Recreational Facility on St. Croix, where Governor Albert Bryan Jr., Lt. Governor Tregenza A. Roach, VIFEMS Director Antonio Stevens and other VIFEMS officials formally announced and commissioned the new emergency response vehicles.
The seven ambulances will be deployed across the territory, with three assigned to the St. Croix District and four assigned to the St. Thomas–St. John District, including one dedicated to St. John. The acquisition was made possible through a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
“These units are a meaningful operational milestone for VIFEMS,” said Assistant Director Lyle Evelyn. “We are officially placing seven new ambulances into frontline service, with three assigned to the St. Croix District and four to the St. Thomas–St. John District. This deployment directly strengthens fleet reliability, expands operational coverage and improves system readiness across the territory.”
Evelyn said the ambulances are equipped to support high-acuity emergency response while prioritizing responder safety, patient care and operational efficiency.
“They are designed to operate in the demanding terrain and conditions unique to the Virgin Islands and will immediately reduce downtime, improve response capability and support service continuity,” Evelyn said. “This ceremony is not just about new apparatus. It is about reinforcing readiness, resilience and our ongoing commitment to protecting the people of the Virgin Islands.”
VIFEMS Director Antonio Stevens stressed that the agency’s mission touches nearly every aspect of public safety and public health, often in ways the public does not see until the moment help is needed.
“VIFEMS is the Swiss Army knife of this Territory,” Stevens said. “We do what is required from a health and emergency response perspective, whether it is simple or difficult, routine or the toughest day a family will ever face. We will continue to do that at the highest standard possible, and these vehicles strengthen that operation and help our teams deliver the service our community depends on.”
Lt. Governor Roach said the ambulances represent more than an equipment purchase. He described the acquisition as part of the government’s broader work to strengthen essential services and improve emergency medical response throughout the territory.
“It is easy to overlook incremental progress until the moment you require the service,” Roach said. “For me, this is personal. I remember when EMS first responders came to my father’s home. In that moment, nothing else mattered but the speed, skill and care of the professionals who showed up to help.”
Roach said he remains grateful for the men and women who answer the call, and he said he is
proud of the administration’s continued investments that support their work.
“I am thankful for what they do, and I am proud that we are putting additional resources in their
hands to assist them in their charge to attend to the medical needs of our community and to
improve emergency medical response times,” Roach said.
Governor Bryan said the territory’s ability to respond in critical moments depends on readiness,
resources and sustained investment, and he credited the men and women of Fire and EMS for the
professionalism they bring to their mission every day.
“Readiness saves lives,” Bryan said. “These ambulances, along with additional resources such as
the recently acquired fire boat and the readiness and training initiatives we have pursued over the
last seven years, have strengthened our emergency response capabilities and ultimately made our
community safer.”
The governor thanked VIFEMS personnel and all partners who have contributed to strengthening
emergency response across the territory.
“I am grateful to the men and women of Fire and EMS, and to everyone who has contributed and
continues to contribute to this work,” Bryan said. “When our responders have the right equipment and support, they can do what they do best: show up, take action and help our people through their most critical moments.”
