For the May 2025 Kings Mountain Fire Volunteer Brigade (KMVFB) Board meeting, the Kings Mountain Fire Department (KMFD) staff was proud to provide a tour of the fire apparatus we use on our responses:
RESCUE 56(R56): This is the newest addition to the KMFD, introduced in 2025. This multi-purpose 4×4 vehicle replaces our 20+ year workhouse older vehicle. R56 responds to the majority of our dispatches. It’s designed to handle most medical and rescues (over-the side, cliff rescues, vehicle extrications, and medical aids). It is capable of transporting patients out of the open space areas, to awaiting ground or air ambulance, or can if all other patient transport resources are unavailable, transport to local medical centers. The front cab supports the driver and officer, while the rear customized box can carry up to three responders/medics with seatbelts, as well as accommodate a stretcher for patient treatment/transport.
EMERGENCY RESCUE VEHICLE 56 (ERV56): This new offroad apparatus was put in service in 2024 to facilitate trail rescues where larger 4×4 vehicles cannot access. This all-terrain vehicle has been used extensively in our open space trail rescues, along with narrow roads, for quick firefighter responses. ERV56 carries basic medical supplies and rope rescue system, and can transport patients when needed to ground or air ambulances.
ENGINE 56(E56): This type 1 fire engine was put in service in 2019. It is used primarily for structure fire response and vehicles accidents. E56 is equipped with extensive rescue gear for vehicle and structure stabilization, medical gear, along with full assortment of ladders, hoses, and fittings needed for structure fire incidents, along with the basic gear needed to initiate wildfire incidents responses. It is equipped with self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) behind each seat, allowing crew members to quickly deploy their protective gear for hazardous environment entries.
ENGINE 356(E356): This type 3 fire engine was put in service more than 21 years ago mainly for wildfire incidents, but is also extensively used on Kings Mountain for air ambulance landing zone support and storm responses with wires/trees down. With high ground clearance and four-wheel drive, E356 design allows it to traverse fire roads and more challenging terrain compared to traditional engines. E356 carries multiple hose types (including wildland packs and hard suction lines), and a float-o-pump for drawing water from pools, lakes, and creeks, SCBAs, medical supplies, and an array of hand tools and chainsaws.
WATER TENDER 56 (WT56): This is a San Mateo County owned vehicle, the only apparatus not owned by the KMVFB. The KMFD staffs WT56 to support water shuttle operations throughout the County. It carries over 2,200 gallons of water (far greater than the 500 gallons most engines carries) to support fire suppression activities in areas where fire hydrants are not close by. Many of our homes in Kings Mountain area and the open spaces rely on water tenders to support quick fire suppression. The KMFD staffing of WT56 has supported numerous out of area responses, such as larger wildfires, the San Bruno gas explosion, and the recent 7-alarm Redwood City structure fire, where the local water supply to the fire hydrants ran low.
The KMFD is very fortunate for the enormous support we receive from the KMVFB Board and the Kings Mountain Community. Without this incredible support, our jobs would be much more challenging and dangerous. What makes our department unique amongst other volunteer fire departments, is that we own all our fire apparatus, as well as much of our equipment. The majority of our funding comes from the Kings Mountain Art Fair. This backing helps the KMFD firefighters to concentrate our efforts and time on training and responses, where many other volunteer fire department spend considerable amount of their time also doing fund raising to make ends meet. Along with the 1 million dollar plus savings the KMFD provides each year to the county by staffing a fire station, we also save the county and tax payers in equipment / apparatus costs.
If you have time, please come by and visit the station to meet our staff and see our equipment. Better yet, sign up to train as a KMFD Medic or Firefighter first responder!