The Canyon Lake Fire Department’s two new command vehicles will be used by the fire chief and battalion chief. Photo provided by the City of Canyon Lake.The two new fire department command vehicles the city ordered in April 2021 are expected to be delivered today.
Before the vehicles can be put in use, they will be sent to a third-party vendor for the installation of radios and emergency warning equipment. This will take approximately one month to complete.
The 2021 Dodge Durangos will be used by the fire chief and the battalion chief, who will share the “duty coverage” to ensure that a chief officer is available around the clock to serve as the incident commander on major emergencies.
The vehicles are equipped with all-wheel drive, upgraded tires, and a two-inch lift to ensure they will be able to meet the varied needs of the new fire department.
The bid was awarded to the National Auto Fleet Group for a total of $48,141.96 per vehicle. However, the city receives approximately $13,000 each year from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to develop clean transportation programs and reduce vehicle emissions. In April 2021, the city’s account, Fund 25, had approximately $115,000 that could be used for the purchase of vehicles and projects that meet the AQMD requirements.
City staff determined that the use of these AQMD funds would eliminate the need for a five-year lease and remove this ongoing cost from the fire department budget. The city said it had no current need identified for the AQMD funds so there will be no impact on other projects or needs. Fund 25 will continue to receive annual installments from AQMD and will build up the account again over time.
