There’s a lot going on with the Redding Fire Department. Deputy Chief Eric McMurtry has been assembling a brand new fleet of engines and trucks, with the latest coming soon from Wisconsin being Engine 6 and Truck One, which is a ladder truck to replace the one stationed in Downtown Redding. That same truck will, for the first time ever, be staffed with four personnel, a captain, an engineer and two firefighters. This is being done due to an increase in multi story apartments and commercial buildings. The department has also just introduced 8 freshly trained firefighters into service after the completion of their grueling four week training academy. In the long term, the department is in the planning phase for fire station number nine, which will be on a piece of land the city is purchasing from State Fund on Tarmac Drive just off Shasta View.