La Honda is getting a fire engine…from Homeland Security

The La Honda Fire Brigade  has received a grant of $237,000 for a new fire engine —from the Department of Homeland Security.  The grant comes from the 2004 Assistance to Firefighters program that is administered by the DHS.

The engine purchased with this grant will be specially designed to meet the specific needs of the rugged and rural San Mateo County Southcoast.  Some unique features of this engine include four-wheel drive operation for wildland firefighting, a short wheel base for maximum maneuverability, and an advanced foam system that reduces water use.

The La Honda Fire Brigade, one of the county’s last all-volunteer fire departments, was founded in 1953. It provides fire protection, along with the CDF/San Mateo County Fire Department, to over 138 square miles of the San Mateo County Southcoast.