The Renton Regional Fire Authority recently announced that it has acquired four new vehicles to their stations including an aid unit, and three fire engines.

The newest aid unit called Station 17 home and is currently in service, serving the Fairwood community. The latest fire engine the department received resides at Station 13 and will serve the Benson Hill area. It is expected to go into service in late September or early October, depending on finishing parts and availability.

The department will also have the other two more engines coming this year. Those rigs will be housed at Station 14 and Station 17.

“The planning for these rigs has been nearly two years in the making. From the time of order, to the time of initial receipt from the manufacturer, it has been about 20 months total and will be about two years total once the rigs are fully equipped and in service to the community.” The department wrote in a statement on their website. “The production time of emergency apparatus is why having a strategic plan that includes a detailed vehicle replacement schedule is so important to ensure the best possible service to the community.”

The new rigs include several new features such as efficiency upgrades, lighting upgrades, mechanical upgrades, and wireless communication.

“By strategically planning the purchase of new apparatus – both internally and externally with other agencies looking to standardize on emergency vehicles regionally,” the department’s statement read. “We can use our combined purchasing power to reduce costs, while creating consistency between departments that makes mutual aid more seamless for our community members in their greatest time of need.”