Fire engine shortage felt nationwide, not just Columbus

Yahoo

13-06-2025

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A potential safety issue here in Columbus is being mirrored across the United States.
NBC4 Investigates first told you about the Columbus Fire Union raising the alarm on a fire truck shortage: an aging fleet and a need for more funding.
Now, we've found that Columbus is one of many cities with this issue, and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) is asking the Department of Justice to step in.
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IAFF is asking the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate fire and emergency vehicle manufacturers. NBC4 Investigates is told years-long wait times and increasing costs for fire trucks are hurting cities across the United States, including in Columbus, and the public is having to pay with their tax dollars and, potentially, with their safety.
'When we have equipment beyond its useful life, not only does that jeopardize our firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, it jeopardizes the people who we're trying to help in that moment where every second matters,' Columbus Fire Union President Steve Stein said.
The IAFF said the issue was highlighted by the Palisades fire in California.
'In the Palisades fire in L.A., the most expensive fire in the history of the country, we know that there were about 100 pieces of fire apparatus that were out of service,' IAFF General President Edward Kelly said.
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In Columbus, the fire union said a funding shortfall has led to many trucks on the road being past their life expectancy and without any change, the issue is set to get worse.
NBC4 Investigates has reported that the union said CFD has been under budget by $7 -$11 million for the past ten years and this has led to the division being very low on trucks. This shortage, combined with Columbus's growth, has increased call volume and put added strain on trucks already past their life cycles.
'I've been in the fire service as a whole just under 20 years, and, you know, I remember when I started, you could get a fully equipped engine for about $370,000. You can barely get an ambulance for that now,' Stein said.
Now, the IAFF is hoping a request on the federal level might bring that change.
'Family-owned fire truck manufacturing companies throughout America were bought out by private equity groups trying to monopolize the industry, so now what we've seen happen is things like wait times for a truck to be delivered are now as long as four and a half years,' Kelly said.
In a letter to the DOJ and FTC, the IAFF writes: 'We write to urge the antitrust division of the Department of Justice ('DOJ') and the Federal Trade Commission ('FTC') to investigate and take action against consolidation in fire and emergency vehicle manufacturers.'
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The letter states that the consolidation trend of these companies that sell parts and trucks has led to skyrocketing prices over the last ten years and a backlog that means quadrupled wait times for cities to get the trucks they spend millions on.
'These apparatus manufacturers and their suppliers and some of these groups that are controlling that supply chain need to be held accountable,' Stein said.
'Not only are the firefighters being put in jeopardy because of these delays and costs, the taxpayers are footing the bill as well,' Kelly said.
In the letter to the DOJ, the IAFF cites a range of cities that have felt the impact, from Evanston, Illinois, to Atlanta, Georgia. Read the full letter below.
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NBC4 reached out to the manufacturers listed in the letter but has not received a response.
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