Council clears grant application and RFP for new Type 3 fire apparatus; sale of surplus equipment, grants to offset costs

The Weed City Council voted to authorize the Weed Volunteer Fire Department to apply for a CalFire Volunteer Fire Capacity Grant and to release a request for proposals for a Type 3 fire apparatus.

Staff said the CalFire grant is a 50/50 match program with a maximum award of $20,000 per entity; the city budgets approximately $10,000 toward the match. The council approved moving forward with the grant application, which staff said would primarily be used to purchase radios.

Separately, the fire department recommended issuing an RFP to build a Type 3 apparatus. Staff described typical Type 3 specifications discussed on the record: a roughly 500-gallon water tank, roughly 500 GPM pump capability and 25 gallons of foam. Staff estimated CalFire-style Type 3 units can cost about $500,000 to buy new. Councilmembers noted revenue from the sale of retired equipment (the department sold Engine 1212 for approximately $50,000) and a separate submitted grant for pump/tank components that could reduce the net build cost by about $60,000.

Council approved the RFP release and the grant-application authorization by voice votes. Staff will publish the RFP and return to council with bids and a funding plan before awarding a build contract.