San Diego Gas & Electric will provide the $131,600 and $32,000 grants to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation and San Diego Regional Fire Foundation, respectively.  

The computers will improve first-responder communication and awareness during wildfires and other natural disasters, Cal Fire San Diego Chief Tony Mecham said.

“Twenty-million dollars in the last year and a half is significant. We have a commitment to address the requests for FY19. We’re working through the budget process right now, it is going to be tight. Everyone is taking a haircut but, certainly, public safety has been a priority for the mayor,” Pena said in an interview Monday.  

Pena’s statement on the matter comes at a time when issues with equipment are increasing and morale is decreasing.

In the last two weeks, because of maintenance issues, a fire engine caught fire and an ambulance leaked carbon monoxide, sending two paramedics to the hospital.

At least two more fire engines broke down this past weekend, and one of them had to be pushed out of the fire station by a group of firefighters.

The accident was initially detailed in a Saturday press release by the South Jordan Police Department, which stated that the affected fire truck was stopped at a red light around 6:30 p.m. when the incident occurred. While the Tesla's occupant suffered a broken ankle and a wrecked car, the truck and its driver were relatively unhurt, and departed under their own steam after an investigation by the SJPD. Witnesses report seeing no indication of braking or evasive action by the driver of the Tesla.

"For unknown reasons, the Tesla failed to stop for the traffic at the red light, and ran into the back of the Unified Fire Authority vehicle at 60 miles per hour," stated Sergeant Samuel Winkler in the initial press release.

A followup release issued to The Drive revealed the results of the SJPD's investigation of the crash. When interviewed by the department, the driver said she activated Autopilot before being distracted by her mobile phone. Tesla technicians were confirmed to be in contact with department officials, who would cooperate to extract telemetry from the seconds leading up to crash from the car's computer.

Before, many of the taller buildings were out of reach and would have posed a threat to lives and property had there been a major fire. Boonville’s Fire Chief Tim Carmichael said, “I feel like it’s increased the ability to handle major fires in the downtown and commercial areas.“ The old 1985 fire truck has already been sold and is expected to be delivered sometime next week. Chief Carmichael said the public is welcome to stop by the fire station and see their tax dollars at work.