SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — As California closes in on yet another wildfire season, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) continues its mission to support, strengthen, and supply local fire jurisdictions with the critical resources necessary to respond to emergencies and disasters.
Today, Cal OES announced the transfer of seven new Type VI fire engines to Los Angeles area fire jurisdictions as part of the California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System. Type VI fire engines are a widely used fire engine in wildland-urban interface fire response because of their versatility, maneuverability, off-road abilities, and fire suppression capabilities.
The Type VI engines were transferred to the following Region I fire agencies:
- Anaheim Fire & Rescue Department
- Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Department
- Orange City Fire Department
- West Covina Fire Department
- La Habra Heights Fire Department
- Arcadia Fire Department
- Sierra Madre Fire Department
Today’s transfer is part of a substantial fire engine order that strategically places engines with local fire agencies throughout California to combat wildfires and respond to other disasters and emergencies. To date, as part of the fleet expansion program, a total of 217 Cal OES fire engines have been delivered to over 60 fire jurisdictions statewide.
“The deliveries today continue to strengthen the partnership between the State of California and local government fire departments while increasing the capability of California’s Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System,” said Cal OES Fire and Rescue Chief Brian Marshall. “Our agency has a robust fleet of 114 Type I All Hazard Fire Engines, 65 Type III Wildland Fire Engines, and 38 Type VI Fast Attack Fire Engines currently in-service across California.”
The Cal OES Fire and Rescue Division coordinates the California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System which moves government resources across the state in support of all-hazard emergency response on behalf of local, state, and federal government fire organizations. Cal OES assigns various fire apparatus to local government fire agencies to maintain surge capacity during day-to-day duties and major events/emergencies.
Through a contractual agreement between Cal OES and the local government fire agencies, the state permits the use of the fire engines for mutual aid responses, local multiple alarm fires, temporary replacement for out of service engines, training, and other local, state, and federal needs. In return, the assignee is required to dispatch the engine with the required personnel to any emergency.