County to house reserve fire engine in Ramona

In a move viewed as a no-cost benefit to the community, Ramona Fire Department/Cal Fire will house a reserve engine from the San Diego County Fire Authority, said Battalion Chief Saul Villagomez.

“What a great opportunity this is for us,” Villagomez told the Ramona Municipal Water District Board.

By housing the reserve engine, the fire department will be able to use it in times of need, according to the district.

Villagomez, fire marshal for the Ramona Fire Department, said the Type 2 engine is used for structure fires, accidents, medical aid and wildfires, and is owned and insured by the county, which will also maintain it. The fire authority’s reserve engine will be housed at Station 80 because it is centrally located, said Villagomez. Station 80 is at San Vicente Road and H Street. The Ramona Fire Department has one reserve engine, which is at Station 82 on the west end of town.

Villagomez said that housing the county’s reserve engine “allows us to continue the mission to protect the citizens of Ramona at no cost.”

In other business at the meeting:

•On the consent calendar the board approved to place delinquent water charges of $18,880 on the San Diego County property tax rolls.

•By a 4-0 vote with Director Kit Kesinger absent, the board authorized to award a contract to J. Colon Coatings, Inc. for $335,430 to coat the district’s Julian and Poway water tanks. The funds were earmarked in the 2012-13 budget, according to the district.

•RMWD will hold its annual public hearing on the adoption of the Fire Mitigation Fee, Multi-Year Facilities and Equipment Plan at its Aug. 13 meeting, which begins at 2 p.m. in the Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane. The fees are expected to bring in revenues of $35,000.