SEQUIM — After 18 years, Clallam County Fire District 3 firefighters will have a new truck smell in a few of their fire engines.
Two fire engines — 2025 Spartan Gladiators — arrived on Sept. 27 and Oct. 4 to the Maintenance and Training facility in Carlsborg. A third engine of the same model will be delivered in early 2026.
Fire district staff on scene for the second delivery said they’re excited for the new engines.
“It’s a huge boon for our department to get three that are identical,” Deputy Chief Tony Hudson said.
“It’s a huge improvement in technology and the ability (for firefighters) to perform their functions.”
Fire commissioners voted in September 2023 to order three trucks from True North Emergency Equipment in Hillsboro, Ore.
Fire District 3 split the funding with an approximate $1.64 million down payment in 2023, and the commissioners agreed at a Sept. 29 special meeting to pay the remaining $1.28 million.
Leading up to the down payment, commissioners followed a recommendation from an Apparatus Committee that worked two-plus years on an upgrade and replacement plan for district vehicles, including a plan to replace three engines at stations 33 in Carlsborg, 34 in Sequim and 37 in Blyn.
Fire commissioners said going through True North was the fastest and most cost-effective method.
The district last bought a new engine 18 years ago, Hudson said.
The Apparatus Committee recommended finding engines similar to the fire district’s 2008 Sutphen fire engine and chose the new models after trying out different engines. Fire District 3’s new fire engines are manufactured in South Dakota and driven north from Oregon, Hudson said.
The first two engines will go to the Carlsborg and Sequim stations and begin daily operations in early November. The Blyn station will receive the third engine in early 2026 and it will be set for use shortly after arrival.
Hudson said the two engines were moved up earlier than anticipated at the manufacturer.
Prior to rolling out in the Sequim area, staff said the engines will need to be “upfitted” with mounts for water hoses and various tools.
Following the fire district’s protocol, all career firefighters must be trained on how to use the new systems on the fire engines, too.
“We want our people to be prepared on how everything operates,” Hudson said.
“There’s not a ton of differences, but there are some nuances.”
One of the main differences is that the fire engines feature a computer monitor inside to control and see various functions on the truck, such as its lighting that’s much improved from the fire district’s older engines.
The engines’ pump panels on the outside middle of the truck have more helpful gauge readings, staff said.
They all will carry up to 750 gallons of water, similar to older models, but staff said they are an improvement with a 500 horsepower Cummins X12, a 12-liter internal combustion engine, independent front suspension and an upgraded transmission.
New engines also feature remote hard tops with lighting for the hose beds atop the fire engines opposed to fitted tarps in older engines.
They also feature UV air purifiers in the cab to clear out viruses and carcinogens from fires.
Hudson said the new engines come at a good time as the older engines were starting to break down.
Despite having an “aggressive maintenance schedule,” he said, they’ve been unable to track down parts or easily repair certain elements.
The fire district employs two mechanics, and one spent a week in Oregon receiving training about the new engines. The second mechanic will tentatively receive the same training next year.
Due to costs, the district’s Apparatus Replacement Plan has the next purchase of fire engines set for 2031.
The older engines being replaced will go to volunteer stations or serve as reserve apparatuses.
Hudson said staff will begin looking next year at a refurbishing plan for older fire engines.
For more about Clallam County Fire District 3, visit ccfd3.org.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. He can be reached by email at matthew.nash@sequimgazette.com.
