CSFS has approximately 140 fire engines located throughout Colorado; they are strategically located to protect communities and the state's natural resources, and to improve local fire programs. The Fire Equipment Shop refurbishes engines and provides all major maintenance on the vehicles.

• CSFS Fire Equipment Shop & Engines
• Single Engine Air Tankers

Fire Equipment Shop & Engines

Federal Excess Personal Property Program

The Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) program refers to U.S. Forest Service-owned property that is on loan to the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) for the purpose of wildland and rural fire fighting.

Most of the property originally belonged to the Department of Defense (DOD). Once the Colorado State Forest Service acquires the property, the CSFS Fire Equipment Shop refurbishes the equipment and fabricates a wildland fire package on each vehicle, which includes a water tank, pump, hose reel and foam system.

After fire engines are refurbished, they are loaned to local fire departments and counties for a minimal fee to improve local fire programs. Each fire department is responsible for minor equipment maintenance. The CSFS Fire Equipment Shop provides all major maintenance on the engines.

The Fire Equipment Shop currently is fabricating all-wheel drive (6x6 and 4x4) trucks and fire packages to upgrade the fleet.

CSFS has approximately 140 fire engines located throughout Colorado; they are strategically located to protect communities and the state's natural resources, and to improve local fire programs.

CSFS Equipment Shop mechanics annually inspect and update these engines as technology advances and budgets allow. Improvements such as low profile tanks, foam injection systems, compressed air foam systems and newer federal excess equipment have made the fleet safer and more effective when fighting fires.

The CSFS Shop employs welders, pipe fitters, machinists and mechanics to fabricate and construct our standard CSFS designed low-profile water tank, which has a low center of gravity and is more stable in the rugged Colorado terrain. A tank's water capacity is 880 gallons and is made from ¼-inch steel and then hot-dipped galvanized to prevent rust.

Our fire equipment shop mechanics also fabricate a limited number of custom wildfire engines for departments that cannot afford to have one commercially built. All CSFS wildland engines, both federal excess property and state-owned, meet or exceed National Wildland Coordinating Group (NWCG) standards for wildland engine types.

Fire engine built at the fire equipment shop.	Mechanics working in the fire equipment shop.

General Services Administration Equipment Purchases

The Colorado State Forest Service is the connection for local and county fire agencies to purchase wildfire equipment through General Services Administration (GSA) contracts. Federal agencies contract with suppliers for fire equipment; the resulting volume provides a savings. The CSFS provides this service for our local fire agencies by using an electronic mail order system. Fire departments also save on Class A foam, which is bulk-ordered by the CSFS.

Single Engine Air Tankers

The CSFS contracts and manages Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) during most of the summer fire season. The number and location of SEATs varies throughout the year as fire activity changes. The aircraft are pre-positioned around the state in response to high fire danger in coordination with federal and county jurisdictions. Colorado has found that SEAT aircraft complement helicopters and large air tankers in wildfire suppression efforts. They are well suited to Colorado's high elevations, rugged terrain and expanding wildland-urban interface as they can navigate through narrow canyons and remote areas.