SAN DIEGO—Standing in front of 10 brand new fire engines worth more than $7 million soon to be put into service, Mayor Kevin Faulconer on Monday reminded San Diegans that wildfires are now a year-round threat in California.
The mayor, joined by Councilwoman Monica Montgomery and Fire Chief Colin Stowell, said the eight fire engines and two brush rigs should make the city better prepared for when fires occur. In addition, the city is expected to get a new fire-rescue helicopter this summer.
“Behind me, as you can see, are several new fire engines that will help Fire-Rescue Department this summer and in the years to come with their firefighting efforts,” Faulconer told reporters at a morning news conference held at the department’s logistics center in Kearny Mesa. “These are all investments in public safety that is absolutely critical for the protection of our city.”
Six of the engines are slated to be deployed to stations in the city starting next week. The remaining four, which were delivered Friday, still need to be inspected and outfitted with radios and other equipment. Since 2017, the city has purchased 43 new fire apparatus, including the 10 unveiled Monday, and built or renovated nine fire stations.
Fire officials said the city paid $789,000 for each engine, while the brush rigs were $452,000 apiece. The new engines will be assigned to stations and replace aging engines that will become reserve apparatus, said Deputy Chief James Gaboury. Old reserve equipment will be sent out to auction.
“It is not an add,” he said. “We are replacing older worn-out apparatus, so it is just a rotation of apparatus, but it puts newer fire apparatus on the road.”
The new engines, which were made by Pierce Manufacturing, also further the department’s goal of standardizing its fleet to make maintenance more efficient, Fire Chief Colin Stowell said. With the delivery of the new engines, 95 percent of the department’s fleet is now Pierce equipment.
“A standardized fleet is more efficient for our firefighters because the operating components are all the same on all of the apparatus,” the chief said. “It is also beneficial to the mechanics in terms of repairs or replacements. It helps them gets these apparatus back on the streets and in service much more quickly.”
Stowell said although the city hasn’t had a large-scale fire within the city limits for several years, it needs to prepare for the inevitable.
“We shouldn’t let that lull us into a false sense of security because it is only a matter of time,” he said.
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