The Charlottesville Fire Department is in the process of purchasing its first ambulance in more than 50 years. The addition to the department's fleet will help meet a growing demand to provide around-the-clock medical services in the city. The last time the CFD had its own ambulance was in the 1950s. That will soon change as the department is in the process of using leftover money from the purchase of its new ladder truck to buy a new ambulance. The Charlottesville Fire Department was allotted nearly $1.6 million to purchase its new ladder truck, but only spent $1.42 million. Charlottesville City Council has approved using the extra money to buy the new ambulance.