The City of Escondido's plans to put a seventh fire engine into service are on hold as the city deals with a serious budget deficit. The newly constructed fire station was scheduled to open next month but the new engine won't come until at least December.
The station will be staffed with an ambulance crew and a battalion chief. Two fire stations were built this year with millions in bond revenue but officials said there was no money to hire firefighters to work in them.
Cash flow problems have already affected the fire department. A North County Times report goes into more detail on how big the deficit has climbed.
