MONTERAY, California—U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced Nov 18, 2025, that he recently secured $935,000 in community project funding for the Cambria Community Services District Fire Department to purchase a new Type 1 engine, according to a press release.
The purchase of a state-of-the-art engine is expected to improve the Cambria Fire Department’s ability to serve and protect the Cambria community, as well as offer aid to neighboring communities, including San Simeon.
“The constant threat of wildfires that we face in California and across the Central Coast, including in Cambria, mandate that communities be prepared at all times of the year,” said Rep. Panetta. “This type of significant investment in a state-of-the-art fire truck provides not just the Cambria District Fire Department, but also our community with the best equipment to help keep our homes and region safe. I’m proud to ensure that the federal government is playing its part with this major investment so that our first responders can continue to effectively respond to emergencies, stay ahead of danger, and protect lives.”
“On behalf of the Cambria Community Services District, I want to express our sincere gratitude to Congressman Jimmy Panetta for his steadfast support of the Cambria Fire Department’s Apparatus Replacement Project,” said Matthew McElhenie, General Manager of the Cambria Community Services District. “His successful efforts in securing $935,000 in federal Community Project Funding will directly enhance our community’s safety and resilience. This critical funding ensures our firefighters have the reliable, modern equipment they need to protect Cambria for years to come. We deeply appreciate Congressman Panetta’s continued commitment to our community.”
The city of Cambria has been designated as a high fire hazard severity zone by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Office of the State Fire Marshal and has historically been threatened by wildfires. The Department currently owns two engines, purchased in 2017 and 2006. Both engines suffered mechanical issues simultaneously last year, taking them both offline, which threatened the department’s readiness and ability to respond to emergencies in the area. While the Department was able to borrow an engine from the Paso Robles City Fire Department during the time both engines were undergoing repairs, it became increasingly clear that the Cambria Fire Department needed a new fire engine to most effectively serve the city of Cambria and the surrounding region.
Rep. Panetta meets regularly with first responders throughout our 19th Congressional District. After hearing about the threats faced by the Cambria community, he requested, advocated for, and was able to secure this significant federal grant for the Cambria District Fire Department. This funding adds to the millions of dollars of funding Rep. Panetta has secured for emergency services across California’s 19th Congressional district, including $2.5 million for the design and construction of a fire and emergency services training facility in Paso Robles and $1.245 million for a new fire engine and equipment for the Templeton Fire Department.
The funding secured for the Cambria Community Services District is part of a grant that Rep. Panetta advocated to be included in the most recent appropriations package. The funds will be delivered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program, which helps increase the competitiveness of rural communities in attracting and retaining businesses that provide employment and services for their residents.
In the 116th Congress, Rep. Panetta and House Democrats led the