New Fire Engines Roll Into Remote Humboldt and Mendocino Communities

Telegraph Ridge new Type 6 quick-attack. Chief Tanner Speas said, “First brand new truck we’ve ever had in our department’s history.”

New equipment is beginning to roll into volunteer fire departments across Southern Humboldt and northern Mendocino counties just as fire season approaches.

During a virtual media briefing held yesterday, Mike McGuire, Senate President pro Tempore Emeritus, joined fire chiefs from across the area to provide an update on the delivery of ten new Type 6 quick-attack fire engines funded through a $2 million state investment secured roughly two years ago.

McGuire said the effort followed years of conversations with rural fire chiefs who described working with aging equipment in some of the most remote areas of the North Coast.

“These mostly all volunteer fire departments have been working with decades old equipment for far too long,” he said. “And I’ll be really blunt about this, some of the fire engines that are being replaced are actually older than I am.”

The new engines are being delivered to departments serving Briceland, Whitethorn, Garberville, Palo Verde, Telegraph Ridge, Covelo, Laytonville, Leggett, Piercy, and Westport. McGuire said six of the ten engines have already arrived, with the remaining four expected by the end of April.

“All told, 10 fire departments in northern Mendocino and southern Humboldt counties are receiving funding to purchase 10 new Type 6 fire engines,” he said. “These trucks, they couldn’t show up soon enough because fire season is just around the corner. It’s nipping at our heels and we need to get these engines deployed as quickly as possible. Six of the 10 have already arrived.”

McGuire described the engines as particularly well-suited for rural terrain.

“These rigs, they’re pretty damn adaptable,” he said. “They’re compact and able to access remote properties on narrow roads.” He pointed out that these rural fire departments often have “few paved roads in the district.”

Each engine includes an onboard water tank of approximately 400 gallons, a pump, and space for medical and rescue equipment. McGuire said the engines were individually designed to meet the needs of each department.

“There is not one truck that is identical,” he said. “Each of the chiefs and their teams had a say on what they needed, how it looked, and what equipment was specific to the needs of the district.

McGuire said, “In addition to these 10 brand new type six fire engines,  Phillipsville and Alderpoint are each receiving repurposed fire engines from the Sonoma County Fire District and Piercy respectively, thanks to the state  funding that’s provided those districts with brand new fire trucks.”

Telegraph Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tanner Speas said the new engines address long-standing challenges faced by rural volunteer departments.

“In the remote Southern Humboldt area, the rural and volunteer fire departments are often the first and sometimes only line of defense when wildfire emergencies strike,” Speas said.

He described the realities of covering large service areas with limited resources.

“So we cover large, rugged areas and limited resources, long response times, and communities that are miles from the nearest help,” Speas said.

Speas said some of the engines being replaced were “40, even 50 years old,” adding that while they were well maintained, they were no longer adequate for modern wildfire conditions.

Telegraph Ridge, 1980s quick attack.

“Trying to fight today’s fast-moving wildfires with equipment from another era puts firefighters and the public at risk,” he said.

Speas also said the project marked a milestone for his department.

“For many of these departments, this is the first brand new apparatus they’ve ever received, including Telegraph Ridge,” he said. “First brand new truck we’ve ever had in our department’s history.”

Leggett Valley Fire Chief Eli Ryder, speaking on behalf of northern Mendocino fire districts, described the scale of the region covered by volunteer departments.

“Together our districts cover approximately 1,100 square miles of forest, mountains, valleys, coastlines, and small towns,” Ryder said.

He emphasized the role of volunteers in emergency response.

“The local volunteer fire departments are the backbone of emergency response,” Ryder said. “Neighbors, friends, and family members who answer the call at any hour.”

Ryder said recent years have brought increased strain on volunteers.

“In the past decade, we’ve seen the local economy shift,” he said. “A pandemic, a shifting climate that have all changed the landscape of our work.”

He added, “The most pressing challenge, however, is invisible on the road. It’s the toll on our members.”

Ryder said modern apparatus directly supports firefighter safety and regional readiness.

“New apparatus get us to the incident faster, equip crews for a wider range of emergencies, reduces the strain on aging equipment, and meets the standards set by our state and federal partners,” he said.

McGuire said the engine deliveries reflect unprecedented cooperation among rural fire chiefs across county lines.

“This is all about working together and strengthening our ability to respond to emergencies faster, provide mutual aid to our neighbors in need, and to be able to protect and defend our rural communities from fire,” he said.

The local investment is part of broader statewide wildfire efforts, including expanded staffing for CAL FIRE, the transition of seasonal firefighters to full-time positions, and billions of dollars in funding for vegetation management and wildfire prevention.

Community events to display the new engines are planned for late March or early April. McGuire said one of the engines will also be on display at the Leggett Mountain Folk Festival in June.

“This would not have happened without each and every one of the chiefs who are here,” McGuire said. “We owe them a debt of gratitude.”