SB County Fire Department gets new fire engines to help with future disasters

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- Following the devastating Bridge and Line fires, the San Bernardino County Fire Department is getting several new fire engines to help with future disasters.

Those two wildfires pushed the department to the edge as far as needed resources.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors took note and they approved the accelerated purchase of 10 new fire engines.

"We ran out of fire engines before we ran out of firefighters. This money from the board allowing the purchase of additional fire engines will give us operational depth that allows us to flex and rise to the needs of additional emerging incidents," said SBCF's Eric Sherwin.

They are set to arrive in just eight to 10 months, a fraction of the usual wait time.

"When those trucks show up they're already to go. All we got to do is put our stickers on them," said Dale Sandoval, the department's fleet manager.

Unlike the department's custom-built fire trucks, these 10 engines, manufactured by KME in Louisiana, are pre-designed, pre-engineered, and ready for rapid production.

Watch Leticia Juarez's full report in the video above.