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Ross council directs sale of 20-year-old Engine 18 after split vote
Summary
The Ross Town Council voted 3–2 to direct staff to have Ross Valley Fire Department sell Engine 18 after a contentious public exchange and council debate about costs, public safety and a citizen-led ballot initiative to restore a Ross fire station.
The Ross Town Council voted 3–2 on July 10 to direct staff to have the Ross Valley Fire Department sell Engine 18, a 20-year-old fire engine the town transferred to the joint fire authority when it joined the Ross Valley Fire Department in 2012.
Supporters of keeping a parked engine in Ross argued the sale is premature while a citizen initiative seeking to restore a Ross-located fire station proceeds toward signature verification and a possible June 2026 ballot. Opponents, including the town manager and fire chief, said the engine is past its useful life, costly to maintain and not practical to keep in service.
The item came after staff and the fire chief outlined operational and cost reasons to sell the vehicle. Town Manager Krista Johnson told the council Engine 18 had exceeded the department’s planned service life and that Ross Valley Fire Department would remove equipment and radios as part of the transition. Ross Valley Fire Chief Dan Mahoney said the engine had mounting…
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