Tooele County approves purchase of Type 3 fire engine to bolster wildfire response

The Tooele County Commission voted to purchase a Type 3 fire engine outright and authorized the county manager to sign the procurement contract, citing an imminent vendor price increase and the vehicle’s role in meeting state wildfire match requirements.

The engine purchase — a Pierce-built Type 3 — carries a total purchase price, including loose equipment, of about $570,000, emergency services staff told the commission. Procurement staff said the vendor warned of a possible 17% price increase after March that could raise the truck’s cost by about $89,000.

Why it matters: Commissioners said buying now would save the county money and give the Tooele County Fire Department a vehicle better suited for wildland and off-road response. County staff also said the engine could be counted toward the state’s required wildland match, which the county estimates at roughly $833,000 for the year.

Bucky Whitehouse, Tooele County emergency services director, described the vehicle as a “versatile engine that allows you to take it off roads” for wildland firefighting while still serving residential emergency calls. He said the new engine would be housed at the South Rim station.

Commission debate centered on financing and timing. The county has $180,000 allocated in this year’s budget toward an engine payment; staff outlined two acquisition options: pay the full purchase price up front or enter a lease. Officials said a lease would cost roughly $143,000 per year in later years and would add about $39,890 in interest over the life of the lease, while paying up front would save approximately $40,000 in interest.

County Manager Andy Welch and other finance staff recommended paying the full purchase price up front if cash flow allowed. “If we don’t have cash-flow problems, that’s when we look at leasing,” a county finance official said during the meeting. Commissioners who spoke favored the up-front purchase, noting the long-term savings and the short window to avoid higher prices.

The commission voted (motion made and seconded on the record) to purchase the engine outright and authorized the county manager to sign the contract. Councilman Wardle made the motion; Councilman Strangberg seconded. The motion carried without recorded opposition.

The purchase will be executed by the Emergency Services Department, which will manage final contract details, equipment installation, and placement at the South Rim station. Staff also said the county could apply the engine’s cost toward the state wildland-match reporting over the multiyear span of the lease or payment schedule.

The decision followed discussion about alternative funding options, including a targeted sales tax program being discussed by some counties for tourism and emergency services; commissioners noted that adopting any new tax would take time and cannot be relied on for this immediate purchase.

The commission’s action directs staff to complete procurement and to return with any necessary contract documents and financing specifics for record and audit.