The City of Escondido, California, council has voted to invest more than $4 million in budget surplus funds and facilities fees for new fire equipment and vehicles, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. 

According to a city staff report, Escondido will pay $2.4 million for three new fire engines, $400,000 for one brush rig, and $786,000 for three ambulances. The city will also use another $651,000 to cover the purchase of 15 cardiac monitoring devices that will be placed in fire trucks and ambulances.

Budget constraints have prevented the city from replacing its aging vehicles for several years and the Fire Department is only now able to address its vehicle needs, said Escondido Fire Chief Rick Vogt. The new fire engines are expected to be delivered within the next 18 to 20 months.