Atascadero council authorizes purchase of new Type 1 fire engine

The Atascadero City Council on a unanimous vote authorized the city manager to sign a $1,277,000 contract with South Coast Fire Equipment to purchase a Pierce Type 1 fire engine.

Fire Chief Bryson told the council the new apparatus is a Pierce Ultimate configuration built on an Enforcer chassis, with a 2,000‑gallon‑per‑minute pump, 500 gallons of water and 25 gallons of foam. He said the engine will serve as a first‑out daily apparatus carrying medical, rescue and fire equipment and that an identical engine is already scheduled for delivery this spring.

"This is the second of our 2005 engines; replacing a 20‑year‑old engine is a big deal for us," Bryson said, describing modern safety features including seat‑belt monitors and backup cameras and improvements in pump, chassis and electrical systems.

Council members asked about industry lead times, warranties and how the city keeps service continuity when an engine is out of service. Bryson said the department keeps a three‑engine fleet with one vehicle designated as a reserve; engines follow a 20‑year replacement schedule and warranty service is handled locally through a Paso Robles service center.

The motion was made by Council Member Peake and seconded by Council Member Funk. A roll call recorded unanimous "yes" votes from Peake, Funk, Newsom, Mayor Pro Tem Darris and Mayor Borbeau.

The council also heard that funding for the purchase comes from the city's vehicle replacement fund; staff reported approximately $9 million in that fund for current and future fleet purchases. The council directed staff to return any outstanding warranty details and inspection timelines to the city clerk’s office before delivery.

The authorization completes the formal procurement step; the engine is expected to be inspected in Appleton, Wisconsin in March and delivered in late March or April.