As a result of continual progressive hazards, including increased wildfire threats throughout all of California, the County of Riverside, partner cities, and CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department introduce a fleet upgrade and expansion, the county said in a press release.

The new fleet includes 18 Type I Engines for firefighting, six Squads equipped to support a variety of responses including rescues, three Type VI/Patrols outfitted for quick attack on smaller fires, two Quints for water pumping and ladder needs, one Tractor Drawn Aerial Fire Truck, one Breathing Support Unit, one Hazardous Materials Unit, and one Excavator, a first in our fleet, to assist with mulch fires. Many of the new apparatus have already arrived, with the remaining apparatus joining our fleet by the end of 2025.

The investment replaces aging apparatus with modern models outfitted with the latest technology and innovations, while also adding new resources, demonstrating our commitment to enhancing public safety and meeting emerging community needs.

These additions reflect the mission of the department to protect life, property and the environment through professionalism, integrity, and efficiency.

The post CAL FIRE and Riverside County FD Upgrade Fire Apparatus Fleet appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

It’s hard to get old and even harder to get slam-dunked by your peers several times in a single month. I was working on an article the other day that mentioned a fire department running three in-service pumpers and a reserve pumper. One of the in-service rigs is a year old and the other two are 16 and 53 years old. The reserve is 36 years old. Never missing a chance to agitate, I had to harass the chief who I’ve known for many years. He’s not old enough to collect Social Security, but he was still fair game for my email: “That thing belongs in a museum. Its 17 years older than your reserve rig.”

He fired right back: “It’s because of versatility. It’s in real good shape after the 1985 rehab. It has a shorter wheelbase and is more maneuverable than the other pumpers. You know our district has narrow rural driveways that are difficult to navigate for the larger trucks. We have farm ponds we can draft from that other apparatus cannot get to. The rig’s overall reliability is also a factor. And, something you old timers can’t relate to is that the rig is not as big and intimidating to both young drivers and older ones like you.”

Well, that was quite the beat down. I didn’t bother replying so he sent another e-mail: “Don’t you remember, you sold us that reserve pumper when it was new? Oh, that’s right – 36 years ago is a long time for old people to remember things.” He won.

Accident Prevention

One morning several Raisin Squad members were having coffee at the picnic table by the station’s kitchen door when a car sped by with a young driver jabbering on a cell phone. It started open season on young people. That kid didn’t realize that three of us old-timers just verbally beat the hell out of him. One white hair said if he gets a ticket for it, mommy and daddy will just pay the fine. I said the problem would be solved if the cop (Constable on Patrol) confiscated his phone and told him he might get it back when he appears in court. One Raisin took the wind out of my sails by saying that could work but it’s probably illegal.

Another said, “If you’re so damn smart, what’s your solution for vehicles ramming the back of fire trucks stopped on the highway?” That should’ve been an easy one. I ventured that in addition to whatever penalties existing laws may have, a new law should be passed that the driver of the vehicle that hits a parked fire truck should personally be financially responsible for the repair or replacement of the apparatus. Put him in the poor house. And if he can’t pay, let his or her insurance company be responsible to pay. There should be a non-negotiable mandatory five-year prison sentence for hitting a rig and 10 years if there’s an injury to a first responder. They jumped all over me like it was my fault: “That’s impossible to pass. You have a better chance of seeing the Good Lord do a back flip under the red light down at the four corners.”

“You oughta stick to remembering stuff that happened before your hair turned white.” Ouch.

Cookie Crumb?

This tale not too many people can recall. I only remembered it because of reading a recent article where two fire departments amicably moved into a single fire station. One of the slang definitions of short-sightedness is when people have “a lack of foresight or poor judgment, particularly when actions are taken without considering long-term consequences.”

Names are omitted to protected the innocent and those possibly guilty. A long time ago, two independent fire departments were contracted to provide fire protection in adjoining areas of the same town. When one proposed building a second fire station close to the common border of the other, they got into an ugly squabble over a possible loss of territory. The dispute became real nasty and ended up in the media. The town supervisor had heard enough and fi

Check out this view from the tiller operator (driver of the back of a ladder truck) as the Asheville Fire Department responds to a fire call recently, the department posted on Facebook recently.

As you can see it’s often tight spaces tiller trucks have to maneuver. Passenger vehicles should always remember to move safely to the right side of the road to allow fire trucks to get to a scene as quickly as possible, the department said.

The post WATCH | Asheville (NC) FD Tiller Responds to Fire Call appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

The city of Santa Barbara announced in a press release the recent acquisition of a new Pierce Arrow XT Aerial Ladder Truck for the Santa Barbara Fire Department, significantly enhancing the department’s emergency response capabilities and long-term service readiness.

The newly acquired ladder truck is equipped with a 107-foot aerial ladder, enabling firefighters to safely and effectively reach the upper floors of multi-story buildings for rescue and fire suppression operations, making it a versatile tool for both urban firefighting and technical rescue scenarios.

Designed with modern safety features, enhanced lighting, and greater storage capacity for tools and equipment, this new addition ensures the department remains equipped to meet the evolving needs of the community.

The Santa Barbara Fire Department invites members of the media and the public to attend a special unveiling ceremony on Friday, July 25, at Fire Station 1. The event will include the traditional “roll-in” ceremony, where the new apparatus is ceremoniously pushed into the firehouse by hand, honoring a long-standing fire service tradition dating back to the days of horse-drawn engines. This will be a unique opportunity for the community to see the new truck up close, meet the firefighters who will operate it, and celebrate a major investment in public safety.

Ladder Truck Unveiling Ceremony

• Friday, July 25, 2025
• 10-11 a.m.
• Fire Station 1 (121 West Carrillo Street)

The ladder truck was secured through a fiscally sound lease-to-own agreement, allowing the City to pay for the vehicle over a seven-year term that was initiated in 2022 and will finalize in 2029 for a total vehicle cost of $1,620,796. This strategic investment ensures financial flexibility while delivering essential public safety improvements today. A total of four fire apparatus were purchased under this lease-to-own program.

Fire Chief Chris Mailes emphasized the importance of the purchase, stating, “This ladder truck is a critical addition to our fleet. It enhances our ability to respond to emergencies quickly and safely. This investment reflects our commitment to protect Santa Barbara residents and visitors with the best tools and technology available.”

The ladder truck will be housed at Fire Station 1 (121 W. Carrillo Street), where it will provide citywide coverage and support for structure fires, rescues, and mutual aid requests.

With proper care and maintenance, the new ladder truck is expected to serve our community for the next 25 years, supporting generations of firefighters and residents. 

Founded in 1881, the Santa Barbara Fire Department operates eight fire stations and serves the city with a dedicated team of highly trained personnel. 

SBFD responds to more than 12,000 calls per year, providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, and disaster preparedness support.

Specifications

Chassis	Arrow XT™
Body	Ascendant® 107’ Heavy-Duty Tiller Aerial Ladder
Actual Overall Height	11′ 2.5″
Engine	Cummins X15
Horsepower	605 hp
Front Suspension	TAK-4® Independent Front Suspension
Rear Suspension	Air
Electrical System	Read more 1 0 Article rating: No rating West Vancouver (BC) Unveils Two New Wildland Fire Trucks  Posted: Jul 24, 2025 West Vancouver (BC) Unveils Two New Wildland Fire Trucks  According to nsnews.com, West Vancouver Fire & Rescue unveiled two Type 5 wildland fire trucks. In addition to several other features, the new rigs feature pump-and-roll capability.   A large wildfire ripped through West Vancouver in 2023, but the department did not have any wildland trucks. They had to be borrowed by North Vancouver Fire and Rescue, the article states.   Chief Gord Howard realized these discrepancies and recognized that if those trucks were available, the 2023 fire would have been dealt with in a more expeditious manner. After this, the department began the process of obtaining new trucks.   The two Wildland 5 Max, purchased through Safetek Profire, include these features:  International CV 515 Crew Cab 4×4 cab and chassis  International 6.6L 350-hp engine  Allison 2750 transmission  100-foot 1-inch hose reel  WATERAX BB-4 21H 4 stage high pressure pump  500-gallon tank  Scotty around-the-pump (ATP) foam system  Whelen LED emergency lighting   High-strength polypropylene body   For more information, visit https://firetrucks.ca/customer/west-vancouver-fire-rescue/  The post West Vancouver (BC) Unveils Two New Wildland Fire Trucks  appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment. Read more 2 0 Article rating: No rating RSS Previous12345678910NextLast Theme picker Filter News Catagories Categories News (193) RSS Expand/Collapse Washington News (11847) RSS Expand/Collapse National News (11518) RSS Expand/Collapse WFC News (109) RSS Expand/Collapse Legislative Announcements (7) RSS Expand/Collapse Flag Lowerings (15) RSS Expand/Collapse Memorial Information (24) RSS Expand/Collapse Sections (6) RSS Expand/Collapse Emergency Medical Services (1) RSS Expand/Collapse Fire Administrative Support (17) RSS Expand/Collapse Fire Mechanics (19385) RSS Expand/Collapse Fire Training Safety & Officers (25) RSS Expand/Collapse Public Fire Educators (4) RSS Expand/Collapse HazMat Committee (0) RSS Expand/Collapse Filter to see National, Washington or WFC News, or filter to the Section News you are looking for! Search News Articles Search Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement - Copyright 2025 by Washington Fire Chiefs Home Members About Us News Calendar Resources Documents Sections County Fire Chiefs FRWC WSAFM