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NCFPD approves purchase agreement for Type 1 fire engine

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The North County Fire Protection District approved a purchase agreement for a new Pierce Type 1 fire engine.

The NCFPD board voted 5-0 Jan. 25 to purchase the engine from South Coast Fire Equipment, Inc. The cost, including sales tax and fees, will be $773,234.12.

“That will replace a 2008 front line Pierce engine which will go into reserve,” said NCFPD fire chief Keith McReynolds.

Type 1 trucks are designed to support urban, rural, and suburban fire departments and carry all required National Fire Protection Association fire fighting equipment. Type 1 engines are often the first on scene after a call as they support both structural firefighting and initial emergency medical service response. Each Type 1 engine has a pump with a minimum tank size of 300 gallons, although most Type 1 trucks have a water tank between 400 and 500 gallons. The truck provides a minimum water transfer of 1000 gallons per minute.

Type 1 trucks are equipped at a minimum with 2 1/2-inch and 1 1/2-inch thick hoses of varying lengths. The trucks also have a full complement of ground ladders, nozzles, forcible entry equipment, rear access and egress equipment, some level of first aid equipment, and other unique items (depending on the local jurisdiction) such as self-contained breathing apparatus, chain saws, full EMS gear, hazardous materials equipment, advanced life support equipment, and additional structural or ballistic gear as needed. Type 1 fire trucks are designed to carry three or four firefighters.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends replacement of front line fire apparatus every 15 years and reserve fire apparatus every 20 years. The North County Fire Protection District capital equipment replacement program calls for the 2008 engine to be replaced during fiscal year 2022-23, but supply chain issues have increased the build time for a new Pierce fire engine from six months to a minimum of 18 months.

Pierce Manufacturing also implemented a 7% increase in the price of fire apparatus and parts effective Feb. 1. “They’re raising their prices,” McReynolds said.

The Jan. 25 action allowed the fire district to obtain the engine at a lower price. “We will be putting in that order now. If we put in that order before Feb. 1 we will save about 7%,” McReynolds said.

Payment for the engine will not be due until the delivery, which is expected in late 2023.

Pierce has a service center in Ontario. The North County Fire Protection District had previously approved Pierce as the sole source for fire engines, although the district uses the HGACBuy government procurement service. The engine purchases are competitively bid, and South Coast Fire Equipment will provide the engines after Pierce builds and ships the apparatus and equipment. South Coast Fire Equipment is also based in Ontario, and the new engine will be delivered to Fallbrook when it is ready.

 

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