Lemon Grove, CA, Fire Department Getting New Rig from State

Firefighters in Lemon Grove soon will have a new truck free of charge from the state under an agreement unanimously approved by the City Council on Tuesday.

Heartland Fire & Rescue Chief Bent Koch told council members the department had sought to replace its aging fleet for three years, but resources have not been available. Koch said they found a solution with the state’s Fire Service and Rescue Emergency Mutual Aid System.

Under the California Office of Emergency Services, the system lends vehicles to fire departments for 10 years with the understanding that they will be used when needed to help other jurisdictions in the state during emergencies.

Koch said buying a truck would cost between $800,000 and $1 million. The city saves an additional $30,000 annually on maintenance, which will be funded by the state.

When not needed in other jurisdictions, local fire departments that receive the trucks can use them in the cities they usually serve. Koch said the extra vehicle will give the department the flexibility to repair and do preventive maintenance on its existing fleet.

While Lemon Grove City Council meetings often have been contentious, the council’s last action before the Nov. 5 election saw all elected officials in agreement to accept the vehicle.

Koch said the state program has been around since 1951 and has 100 vehicles available to fire departments throughout California. Heartland also serves La Mesa and El Cajon, which already have trucks on loan under the program.

The Lemon Grove station responds to about 4,000 calls each year. Its existing fleet is a 2014 truck with 97,400 miles, a 2023 truck with 9,700 miles and a 1997 truck with 167,000 miles. Koch said they will evaluate the condition of the fleet to determine how to use the new vehicle.

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