City of Morgan Hill Public Safety Master Plan

considers the fleet maintenance process managed by CAL FIRE a Best Practice from which both the City and District benefit. In recent years CPSM has observed many municipalities deferring the purchase of expensive fire apparatus, ambulances, and other capital equipment in the wake of shrinking revenues. We estimate that, in 2016, the average age of first-line engines utilized by CAL FIRE was 5.6 years and its primary reserve engines averaged 18 years of service. The age and upkeep of these apparatus are exceptional and a tribute to the management and mechanical staff in maintaining this level of commitment. It has been CPSM’s observation that most fire departments anticipate a useful working life of fire engines to be 15 years in frontline service followed by five to seven years in a reserve status (a useful life expectancy of 20 to 22 years).

TABLE 3-7: SSCCFD and Morgan Hill Apparatus Inventory

Unit

Type

Make

Year

Age

Engine 67 (Sta. 1- HQ Monterey Rd)

Type 1/Engine

Pierce

2008

8 years

Engine 68 (Sta. 2 Masten)

Type 1/Engine

Pierce

2010

6 years

Engine 69 (Sta. 3 Treehaven)

Type 1/Engine

Pierce

2015

1 years

Engine 57 (Sta. 4 El Toro)

Type 1/Engine

Pierce

2013

3 years

Engine 58 (Sta. 5 Dunne Hill)

Type 1/Engine

Pierce

2013

3 years

Ladder 57 (Sta. 4 El Toro)

Type 1/Ladder

Pierce

2013

3 years

WT 67 (Sta. 1- HQ Monterey Rd)

Type 1/Tender

Pierce

2000

16 years

WT 68 (Sta. 2 Masten)

Type 1/Tender

Pierce

2002

14 years

Wildland 658 (Sta. 5 Dunne Hill)

Type 6/Engine

Ford

2013

3 years

Wildland 368 (Sta. 2 Masten)

Type 3/Engine

HME/IH

2015

1 years

Reserve 167 (Sta. 3 Treehaven)

Type 1/Engine

Pierce

1994

22 years

Reserve 168 (Sta. 2 Masten)

Type 1/Engine

Pierce

1998

18 years

Reserve 169 (Sta. 3 Treehaven)

Type 1/Engine

Pierce

2003

13 years

Battalion 57 (Sta. 4 El Toro)

Command

Ford/F-250

2013

3 years

Engine 1681 (Sta. 31 Pacheco)

Type 3/Engine

INTL

2014

2 years

In a 2004 survey of 360 fire departments in urban, suburban, and rural settings across the nation, Pierce Manufacturing reported on the average life expectancy for fire pumpers. 1 The results are shown in Table 3-8.

TABLE 3-8: Fire Pumper Life Expectancy by Type of Jurisdiction

First-Line Service

Annual Miles Driven Reserve Status

Total Years of Service

Demographic

Urban

15 Years

7,629

10 Years

25

Suburban

16 Years

4,992

11 Years

27

Rural

18 years

3,034

14 Years

32

Note: Survey information was developed by Added Value Inc. for Pierce Manufacturing in, “Fire Apparatus Duty Cycle White Paper,” Fire Apparatus Manufacturer’s Association, August 2004.

1 Fire Apparatus Duty Cycle White Paper, Fire Apparatus Manufacturer’s Association. August 2004.

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