By MICHAEL BURGE

The Deer Springs Fire Protection District has received a new fire engine that will be assigned to Station No. 12 at the Interstate 15/Deer Springs Road interchange. The engine will serve district residents, answer emergencies along the freeway and respond to mutual aid calls outside the district.

The new engine, manufactured by Spartan at a cost of $530,000, replaces a 12-year-old engine that will serve as a backup when active engines are undergoing maintenance. The typical engine lasts for 10 years on the front line, then 10 more years as a reserve, said CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Nick Brown, who also serves as Deer Springs fire chief. The old engine made it to 12 years on the front line, and will now become a backup.