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To:	Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors
From:	Jeff Carman, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Date:	March 13, 2018

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Purchase of Type III Wildland Firefighting Engines

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 03/13/2018

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, Director
Candace Andersen, Director
Diane Burgis, Director
Karen Mitchoff, Director
Federal D. Glover, Director

Contact:

Aaron McAlister, Assistant Fire Chief 925-941-3300

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: March 13, 2018
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the purchasing agent on behalf of the Fire Chief, to execute a purchase order with HME Incorporated in an amount not to exceed $690,000 for the purchase of two (2) Type III Model 34 wildland firefighting engines for emergency response.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Not to exceed $690,000. 100% Pittsburg Special Fund (203800).

BACKGROUND:

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (District) is charged with fighting wildland fires as part of its primary mission of providing fire protection. The apparatus used for fighting wildland fires is specialized and requires a configuration and specifications not common to the typical municipal fire department pumper. The apparatus used for fighting wildland fires require four-wheel drive, a short wheel base, the ability to carry a supply of specialized wildland firefighting equipment, and interior seating capacity for up to four firefighters. The most common type of apparatus used throughout the State of California by agencies like the District is referred to as a Type III Engine.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The District currently operates a fleet of twelve (12) Type III Engines and five (5) Type II engines that have been reconfigured for wildland firefighting. With this purchase we are targeting a portion of our oldest wildland engines manufactured in 2000 for replacement. These vehicles have a hydrostatic pump system that is no longer utilized by the district and poses training challenges.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends a maximum of 15 years for front-line service for these types of apparatus. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has developed specifications for their Type III Engines that are suitable for the needs of our agency in carrying out the control and suppression of wildland fires. We selected a Cal Fire designed Type III Engine and recommend purchasing two of these units as part of the HGAC Cooperative Purchasing program. This system allows local government agencies to procure goods and services already competitively bid and awarded.

The District has a threat of wildland urban interface fires similar to the conditions found in last year’s North Bay fires in Napa, Sonoma, and Solano County. The acquisition of two engines will have a positive impact on District operations and public safety. Investing in our wildland fleet will allow the District to have modern, more reliable equipment available for fires that occur in the wildland urban interface areas.

The District already owns two of these vehicle built by HME and has been satisfied with the performance. The consistency will provide for streamlined maintenance. There are hundreds of these style units in service in California, and replacement parts are readily available.

This price is extremely competitive when compared to other custom built wildland firefighting vehicles. The per unit cost of the engines is approximately $311,000 plus tax and the total project with tax will not exceed will not exceed $690,000, including sales tax.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The District would be unable to invest in its wildland firefighting fleet. The District would continue to maintain engines that have been in service as front line engines for over 18 years.