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Cal EMA Transfers New Fire Engines to Locals, Increases States Mutual Aid System

Sacramento - Highlighting the public safety benefits of the state's mutual aid system to protecting Californians from emergencies, officials from the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA), Apple Valley, Rancho Santa Fe, and Vacaville Fire Departments today participated in the transfer of three new Type I replacement engines at Cal EMA's headquarters in Mather, CA.

"Stationing Cal EMA-owned fire engines in local departments statewide is an integral and valuable component of the State's ability to immediately respond to the needs of local governments during emergencies," said Cal EMA Secretary Matt Bettenhausen. "Local agencies benefit from the added emergency response capability in their day-to-day operations, and the State benefits from having the resources readily available to fight major fires and disasters in the region."

The new replacement engines transferred today were Type 1 Light Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) engines - a model typically utilized in response to structure and wild land fires. However, this engine also stands at the ready to respond to any natural or manmade disaster that could happen in California. This transfer of engines highlights the benefits of the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) Statewide Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid Program. It's part of California's robust mutual aid system allowing for disaster response resources to be strategically positioned throughout the state.

Two of these new engines were funded in the Governor's 2005-06 budget following recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Fire Commission after the 2003 Southern California wildfires. A total of 19 engines were funded in the Governor's budget.

The first five new engines from the OES Engine Program were transferred to the City of San Diego, Escondido, Oceanside, Murrietta and the City of Riverside Fire Departments. The following ten were transferred to the County of Los Angeles, City of Fremont, Contra Costa County, Alameda County, City of Hayward, City of Livermore and the City of Pleasanton Fire Departments.