Made possible by the Assistance of Firefighters Grant Program of the Department of Homeland Security, and the City of Soledad, at a cost of $532,000, the City was able to purchase a custom fire engine made specifically to serve the community and the Mission Soledad Rural Fire Protection District.

“By partnering with the Department of Homeland Security, we were able to bring the best model fire engine for our community at a fraction of the cost,” said City Manager Michael McHatten. “Through innovative partnerships, we will continue strengthening our City’s public safety infrastructure while also being mindful of how we spend taxpayer dollars.”

The units are expected to arrive by the middle of next week, once they pass a pre-delivery inspection by the manufacturer, Atlantic Emergency Solutions, of Manassas, Va., according to county government spokesperson Cindy Mumby.

The first of the two ambulances, which will be staffed by EMS crews employed by the county, is scheduled to be placed in service in January of 2018, following a plan laid out by County Executive Barry Glassman in his annual State of the County Address last January.

The ambulance crew would be available to answer calls during peak times for Harford’s volunteer fire and EMS companies, privately-run entities that currently provide EMS countywide with a mix of volunteers and paid medics who work for the fire companies.

The state patrol says the crash happened Monday night as the ambulance driver was changing lanes from Highway 694 to Interstate 94, and hit the back end of a semi that was being towed.