Less than two years after residents overwhelmingly adopted a $35 a year parcel tax to increase safety for the Boulder Creek Fire Protection District, a new engine is on the way.
Manufactured by West Mark, the $400,500 Wildland Type 3 engine is ideal for fire protection off road in the rugged hills in the San Lorenzo Valley.
“There’s not one person I spoke to that had a problem with aspects of this engine,” said Boulder Creek Fire Department Chief Kevin McClish, adding that the new fire-proof paint adds to additional safety. “We don’t even have to worry about falling embers.”
The 34-member volunteer Boulder Creek fire department covers 21 square miles of mountainous terrain and serves approximately 15,000 citizens. Many people who live in Boulder Creek and Brookdale don’t realize they are protected by a volunteer fire agency, whose dedicated volunteers provide the same level of service as a paid fire department.
The firefighters come from all walks of life and respond to more than 800 service calls annually.
When McClish presented Measure N to Boulder Creek and Brookdale residents in the fall of 2016, he cited the need for an annual parcel tax. At the time, the department was having difficulty keeping up with mountainous fire calls.
McClish noted that some property insurance cost increases are based in part on the local fire department’s ability to respond quickly with modern equipment.
The 30-year parcel tax will be used to purchase fire engines, protective clothing and breathing apparatus. The measure was approved by 83 percent of area voters.
Able to pump 500 gallons per minute, the 4-wheel drive Wildland 3 carries three batteries, has lift-up doors and carries a 16-foot ladder able to reach three stories high.
Engines produced by West Mark have become the industry standard, and are used by stations including Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura County, La Honda and Contra Costa.
The district’s board of directors unanimously approved a resolution Thursday, March 1 to purchase the Wildland 3 engine, which should be delivered in about 13 months, McClish said.
