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What They Bought:

• Wildland interface type II engine

How the Grant Has Helped:

"This is the first brand new engine we have purchased in more than 20 years, and it is built just for the way we operate," says Chief Rick Todd, referring to the new wildland interface engine purchased by the Georgetown Fire Protection District with their 2003 Assistance to Firefighters grant. The District is in a rural area of northern California, northeast of Sacramento, and their fire vehicles have to be able to travel efficiently over rough terrain, narrow and winding mountain roads, and unpaved gravel driveways. The new engine enhances the District's wildland fire suppression capabilities. Its protection area covers about 100 square miles and approximately 6,500 residents.

The District's 35 volunteer firefighters and 11 paid staff members "were ecstatic to have a new vehicle to work with," says Chief Todd. Although the District has eight fire vehicles to equip its five fire stations, the new grant-funded engine is the only one to meet all of the relevant National Fire Protection Association requirements. After the grant-funded engine, the District's newest vehicle is 16 years old.

In the short 5 months the wildland engine has been in service, it has been put into action several times through the State's mutual aid system, including deployments to aid firefighting efforts in nearby Eldorado National Forest.

One of the Georgetown District's biggest problems is wildland fires. “Of the fire calls received in 2003, about 80 percent were for wildland or forest fires,” says Chief Todd. In the short 5 months the wildland engine has been in service, it has been put into action several times through the State's mutual aid system, including deployments to aid firefighting efforts in nearby Eldorado National Forest . The new engine carries up to 500 gallons of water, pumps 1,000 gallons per minute, and carries advanced life support and extrication equipment.