15 Wildland Pumpers On Loan from the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services to Cities in Wildfire-Prone Areas Throughout the State

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In Spring of 2007, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) placed an order for 15 Wildland Type 3 Pumpers with Rosenbauer America of Lyons, South Dakota. By the summer of 2008, these units were delivered to 15 fire departments throughout the State of California. On loan from the State Government, these rigs were given to municipalities that were in areas deemed to have a high wildfire risk. The purpose of this purchase was to give local governments the ability to handle initial attacks on wildfires, until other resources could be deployed.

The City of Murrieta, located in Southern California, received one of the new OES Type 3 pumpers in June of 2008. According to Fire Chief Paul Christman, the Murrieta Fire Department staffs the engine using their overtime budget. They then send a bill to the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, and the state reimburses the city. The rigs are assigned to the station with the understanding that if a fire in another part of the state occurs, the truck and its crew will be deployed to that fire, unless the unit is already assigned to a local fire. Shortly after its delivery, the Murrieta OES Unit 8634 was dispatched to Northern California to fight the East Basin Complex Fire, and was recently deployed to the Marek Fire in Los Angeles.

With their off-road capabilities and wildland firefighting specifications, these fire trucks were designed to respond primarily to brush fires. Built on an International 7400 4x4 Chassis, these units have 500 gallon UPF poly tanks, Darley 500 GPM 2-stage pumps, and a Darley Auxiliary Pump. These trucks differ from the Type 1 fire engines that are the first out units on structure fires in that they are more light weight, as their tank is smaller and they carry a smaller compliment of forestry hose and nozzles. They also differ in that they have 4WD capabilities, allowing them to access rough terrain, and their "pony pump" gives them the ability to pump water from the truck and drive at the same time. A floater pump also allows them to draft from lakes and other bodies of water.

These trucks carry a 5-man crew, and according to Murrieta Fire Department PIO Matt Corelli, these trucks also provide Advanced Life Support (ALS). Because of this, crew members must be certified paramedics.

The cost of each unit is between $250,000 and $300,000, and while the State of California has considered purchasing additional trucks, the likelihood of this happening in the near future is uncertain due to the budget problems affecting the state. Echoing this, Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries from California's 66th District says, "The state budget for this year and next budget year is looking really bad, and I'm really concerned that public safety is going to get hit hard. I think public safety is the first priority of our tax dollars and so I think it is unfair to the tax payers to make any cuts to public safety. But I am afraid that there is not going to be surplus funds or extra funds to make some purchases, and I hope that's not the case, but that is my concern."

The 15 units that are in service are greatly appreciated by the firefighters in the communities were they are stationed and by citizens throughout the state. As Captain Mike Ramos of the Murrieta Fire Department says, "As a firefighter, I love going and fighting fire, and that is something that is in my blood. Having the opportunity to go and help out in the other areas such as Northern Calfornia…I take great pride in that. The other prideful thing is to see our name, Murrieta Fire Department, painted on the side of that door when we roll up to the fires such as the East Basin Fire and the Marek Fire. It means a lot to me to show the public and the community out there that we're here to help you as well."