On-site firefighter support If space travel were possible for emergency automobiles, the mileage logged on Manatee County’s lone ambubus would be more than enough to drive to the moon and back. Yes, the county is preparing to replace it. Manatee County added a new ambubus to its five-year capital improvement plan during the 2019 fiscal year. The latest step toward adding that ambubus came at a Feb. 9 Manatee County Commission meeting, where commissioners adopted a resolution to accept a $32,843 grant from the Florida Department of Health to buy lighting and cabinets for the incoming ambubus. Ambubuses are typically used in situations that require medical evacuations from large-scale incidents. Sometimes, that means providing a vehicle where a large number of people are involved. Manatee County Emergency Medical Services Chief James Crutchfield gave the example of a car accident involving an SUV holding a family of four and a minivan holding a family of five.