Up and Down the Central Coast

Greetings! While it has been a quiet wildfire season in California, there has been quite a bit of activity as far as fire apparatus deliveries. Our first visit was to sunny Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara City Fire Department. Recently placed into service was Truck 1. Truck 1 is a 2010 Spartan Gladiator 103 foot tractor drawn aerial. Just down to the south, the Ventura County Fire Department has begun placing into service several 2011 American La France Eagle Pumpers. One of the new engines was delivered to Medic Engine 52 which serves the east end of Camarillo. The new engine has a 1500 gpm pump with a 500 gallon water tank. Also in Ventura County, the Federal Fire Department at the Point Mugu Navy Base has placed into service a new Pierce Hazardous Materials unit designated as HazMat 72. In San Luis Obispo County, the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department has placed a Pierce 100 foot tiller based on an Arrow XT chassis in service as Truck 1. Finally, in Monterey County, the Greenfield Fire Department placed into service a 2009 Spartan Gladiator pumper as Engine 8411 as well as a Ford F-450 brush patrol unit. That's all for now. May you all have a festive and peaceful Thanksgiving.

Living the SLO Life

Welcome to the first posting of West Coast Emergency Apparatus. Our first visit was to San Luis Obispo County. First stop was San Luis Obispo County Fire Station 30 in Rural Paso Robles. Engine 30 is a Spartan/Smeal engine with a 1500 GPM pump and 500 gallon tank. Also operating out of the station that day were Cal Fire Engine 3462 and Engine 3472, both Type 3 wildland engines on a Model 34 Rosenbauer chassis. One of the newest pieces of equipment is Rescue 21 out of Station 21 adjacent to the San Luis Obispo County Airport. The new rescue is a 2010 Spartan/Gladiator built by SVI. It is classified as an ICS Type II Urban Search and Rescue vehicle and carries a full compliment of USAR and water rescue equipment. Our final visit was with the newly formed Five Cities Fire Authority which currently serves the cities of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and Oceano. Recently added to the fleet is Truck 66. The new apparatus is a 100 foot platform built by Pierce Manufacturing on an Arrow XT chassis. It is powered by a Detroit S60 engine and has a 1500 gpm pump and 300 gallon tank. Special thanks go out to the crews from San Luis Obispo County Fire Stations 30 and 21 and Five Cities Fire Authority Station 66 for their assistance and hospitality. That is all for now. Hope you all survive Carmageddon this weekend!