NCFPD to purchase Dodge Ram for fleet service vehicle

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The North County Fire Protection District will acquire a Dodge Ram for use as a fleet service vehicle.

A 5-0 NCFPD board vote Tuesday, Oct. 25, approved the sole source purchase of the 2022 Dodge from Jim Manning Dodge, which is in the Tulare County town of Dinuba. The NCPFD cost including taxes and fees will be $237,674.43.

The existing fleet service vehicle is 23 years old. During summer 2021, the fire district ordered a Ford F-550 from Downtown Ford in Sacramento, but supply chain delays have prevented delivery and the fire district expects to receive an order cancellation notice.

“Our fleet supervisor went looking for another light vehicle and was able to find one,” NCFPD fire chief Keith McReynolds said.

The Dodge Ram 5500 is light compared to a fire engine. Its 6.7-liter diesel engine allows for a maximum towing capacity of 35,220 pounds and a payload capacity of 7,500 pounds.

“It needs to be a very heavy truck,” McReynolds said. “It needs to be able to carry a lot of equipment.”

Because the search determined that the Dodge Ram was the only available vehicle in a West Coast state which would meet NCFPD needs, a sole source procurement was warranted.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].