Morongo Donates Fire Engine To College Of The Desert

PALM DESERT, CA — Palm Desert's College of the Desert has received a donation of a fire engine to help students enrolled in its Fire Academy learn more about the science of battling blazes.

The 1998 KME type 1 fire engine was recently donated by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, according to an announcement Monday by Morongo. The rig will be used by Fire Academy students to train and learn new skills, including how to handle fire hoses, basic pump operations and use of emergency tools and equipment. With the Morongo donation, the college will now have six fire engines in its instruction fleet, according to Morongo and college officials.

“We can’t thank Morongo enough for donating a fire engine that will provide hands-on experience and training to our Fire Academy students as they learn how to safely come to the aid of others during an emergency,” said the college’s Fire Academy Program Coordinator Cameron Miller.

Accredited through the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Fire Academy teaches students the skills to safely perform essential and advanced fire tasks such as rescue operations, auto extrication, fire suppression, fire prevention and fire investigation. Students also learn to use and maintain various firefighting and rescue equipment, according to the college.

“The College of the Desert is a pivotal force in the local community, and their impressive Fire Academy helps keep local fire departments strong and vibrant,” said Morongo Tribal Chairman Charles Martin. “We’re excited to see our donated fire engine as a teaching tool that will help future firefighters protect lives and property across our region.”

Morongo Fire Chief Jason Carrizosa said the fire engine was used by his department to respond to countless emergencies, from vehicle crashes and house fires to the 2020 Apple Fire that charred 33,000 acres in the San Gorgonio Pass. The fire engine also helped battle destructive wildfires across California, such as the Woolsey Fire and Camp Fire. The Morongo Fire Department routinely deploys personnel and equipment to help fight fires across the state and the nation, according to the agency.

“This fire engine has a been a true workhorse and has a long history of saving lives and homes on our reservation, in the neighboring cities of the Pass, and all over California,” Carrizosa said. “In its new mission, it will continue to protect the public by providing foundational training and experience to aspiring fire crews.”

The Morongo Fire Department no longer needed the fire engine after adding new vehicles to its program, such as a 2018 custom-built KME fire engine. The department also has a new quintuple combination pumper and Type 3 Brush engine in production, which should be completed by this time next year, according to Morongo officials.

“We are grateful for Morongo’s donation to strengthen our Fire Academy ,” said Chair Rubén AríAztlán Pérez of the college’s board of trustees. “This fire engine will be an important tool to facilitate hands-on learning for our students. ”