A shiny, red firetruck arrived two weeks ago, and a four-wheel-drive patrol vehicle is expected at the station sometime in January.

The process of obtaining the vehicles dates back about three years. But with the district having made headlines in recent weeks over disputes with the city regarding its plans to build a new station and the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Oct. 30 seizure of its computers, the arrival of the first truck comes in time to perhaps mitigate some of the negative light that's been shed.

"I hope it sends a positive message that we are being progressive. We're trying to meet the needs of the community," said Capt. Don Olson, who sat on the committee that selected the new vehicles.

The new $400,000 fire engine, which features more compartments for storing specialized rescue equipment, replaces one that has been in use for more than 20 years, district officials said. The district tries to replace a truck every 15 to 20 years as standard practice.

But that doesn't mean the old engine has seen its last days of service. Now on reserve status, the old engine will remain at the fire station to serve as back-up in case either of the two frontline engines—trucks that are first to respond to a call—break down, said Capt. Bill Morrison, noting that the old engine continues to function properly.

And while Saratogans may not be aware that the city has a new frontline engine—so far firemen have only been training on the new vehicle, which the district hopes to have out in the field by Dec. 1, Olson said—foothill residents should take note of the four-wheel-drive once it arrives, since it will be the first time the city can boast of having a patrol vehicle on hand.

Whereas a frontline engine comes equipped with a pump that spews out 350 gallons of water per minute, the patrol truck features a 350-gallon-per-minute pump. The $145,000 Ford F550, known as a Type III rescue patrol, features a 162-inch wheel base, which Olson said "will turn on a dime" and allow for easier maneuvering in the hills, where roads are narrow.

"We designed this rescue specifically for use in the hills," Olson said. "It's designed to meet our needs here in Saratoga. It's a multipurpose unit that will enhance our ability to serve the community."

Until now, the district only had two frontline engines. The addition of the two fire engines doubles the number of vehicles owned by the district—but it doesn't stop there.

In the future, Morrison said, the district plans to purchase an aerial platform truck with a 75-foot ladder. But that purchase must wait until the district builds its new station, because the current station lacks the space to accommodate it. According to Olson, the aerial engine would measure 35-38 feet in length and stand 12 feet tall. The recently purchased engine is 29 feet long and 10 feet tall and clears the fire station opening by just one inch, he added.

For now, the district will operate with two main engines—the recent purchase and one that is about 9 years old—and the reserve engine. Older engines are typically passed on to volunteer fire departments, business manager Trina Whitley said, but this time the district might put a 1976 truck up for sale on eBay this week.

The purchase of a patrol and aerial engine fulfills a boundary drop agreement between the Saratoga and Santa Clara County fire districts. The Saratoga district covers the southwestern half of the city, while the county oversees the other half. According to Olson, both districts entered into an agreement in August of last year that states that the agency closest to the scene will respond to a call, regardless of whether the call is placed within that agency's own boundaries. The agreement also calls for the Saratoga district to equip itself with the new engines.

The agreement "in and of itself has enhanced service to the community," Olson said.

The district also purchased other equipment in tandem with the new vehicles. Occupational Safety and Health Administration federal regulation 3130 mandates that anyone exposed to hazardous material must have a change of work clothes available. Thus, all firemen now own two sets of uniforms (which include the pants and jackets). Also, the district's self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) gear had reached the end of its life and was replaced, Whitley said. The new SCBA gear is smaller and lighter, and it carries more oxygen.

To pay for all of the new equipment, the district financed a $750,000 purchase agreement, with a 4.81 percent simple interest rate, from LaSalle Bank, which lends money to government agencies. The district has seven years to pay off the lease, Whitley said, and it will only dip into its reserve fund if necessary.