Sierra City Seeks Help Buying New Fire Engine

SIERRA CITY — A local fundraising campaign is underway to help the Sierra City Volunteer Fire Department offset the cost of a new fire engine, described by organizers as the final major step in a yearslong effort to modernize the department’s emergency apparatus.

The campaign, called Prospecting for Protection, is being led by an ad hoc committee comprising members of the Sierra City Fire Department Auxiliary, the Sierra City Volunteer Fire Department, and Firewise Sierra City. The committee is trying to raise $25,000 by September 19, which would be matched dollar for dollar by an anonymous local donor, bringing the total to $50,000 if the goal is reached.

The new engine is expected to cost just under $420,000, according to Sarah Kubly, who is helping lead the campaign. She said the Sierra City Fire Protection District is responsible for procuring apparatus for the department, while fire department leadership recommends the equipment needed by volunteers. Fundraising, along with the planned sale of the current engine, is intended to reduce the amount the district would need to pay or finance.

The need for the new engine is due partly to the modernization effort and partly to the question of who can get behind the wheel. Kubly said department leaders have spent the past five to six years upgrading the fleet, including replacing an older water tender with two smaller water tenders that can be driven by more volunteers. The new setup increased the department’s water tender capacity from 3,000 gallons to 4,000 gallons, she said.

The remaining problem is the department’s current fire engine. “The Fire engine, as well as our previous water tender, are big, heavy beasts, and because of their size and weight, they require a Class A endorsement,” Kubly said during a phone interview. In earlier years, she said, more volunteers held Class A licenses. Now, with a smaller volunteer roster, few members are licensed or insured to operate it for the department.

A 2025 transfer station fire helped make the issue more urgent, according to Kubly. At the time, she said, the department had two licensed people who could drive the current engine, and both were away on coastal fishing trips. “And so the fire department protection district, everybody is like, we need to do something different,” she said.

The proposed replacement is a next-generation Type 3/6 engine built on a Ford F-550 chassis. Kubly said the truck would carry the same amount of water as the current engine while weighing significantly less, making it something every department member could drive.

The engine being considered is a QTAC Super 3, a smaller fire engine built by QTAC Fire and Rescue Apparatus, a Chico-based company. QTAC describes the Super 3 as a Type 3-capable engine on a smaller, more maneuverable chassis, with a 500-gallon tank, a lightweight PolyTough body, and a dual WATERAX BB4 pump system designed to meet Type 3 pressure and flow requirements.

In practical terms for Sierra City, the department expects the truck to be easier to use in steep, tight, and difficult-to-access areas. Kubly pointed to places such as Sacred Mound, where narrow roads, steep grades, and limited turnaround areas can make emergency access difficult for larger apparatus.

The truck would not be a utility vehicle, but “an actual fire engine,” only smaller and easier for volunteers to operate. She also said the lighter polymer-based body is one reason the apparatus can be built on the F-550 chassis rather than a larger, heavier platform. Kubly said a new full-size fire engine can cost roughly $750,000 to $1 million or more, making the proposed truck a less expensive option while still offering strong capability for both structure and wildland fires.

The manufacturer recently brought a demo model to Sierra City for firefighters, fire protection district commissioners, and community members involved with the department, auxiliary, and Firewise Sierra City. Kubly estimated that about 30 people attended and said the response was positive. She also noted that having the manufacturer in Chico would make warranty work or service easier than dealing with a company farther away.

Organizers plan to keep the community updated on the campaign’s progress with a sign in town by “filling our boot,” a visual marker showing how close the effort is to its $50,000 goal.

Tax-deductible donations can be made to the Sierra City Fire Department Auxiliary and mailed to PO Box 55, Sierra City, CA 96125. Donations can also be dropped off with Larry Breed at the Sierra Country Store or made online through Zeffy.