You know, I went on vacation for one week—just one week—and I come back to find out that a class action lawsuit has been filed by a midwestern town against three OEMs and an industry association. The lawsuit contends that the four entities have been conspiring and that where we are right now with lead times and costs is a result of their getting together. Now, I’m sure there will be those out there who disagree with me completely on this, but I really think it’s time that we all step back, take a deep breath, and really look at the situation and how we landed here.

Fire departments across the country are frustrated, and they have every right to be. It’s taking what feels like forever to get a fire truck right now. We are used to getting a new rig in 18 or so months after placing the order. We are used to paying a lot less for them than we are right now. It is rough out there. Small fire departments that are already stretching their front-line fire apparatus as far as they possibly can while remaining compliant with applicable standards—and many times, by necessity, not being compliant—are looking at apparatus costs and wondering how they will update their small fleets. Larger departments that have pretty set replacement cycles are just now taking delivery of orders placed three years ago. It’s not easy, and it has required fire departments to adapt across the board.

We know that the federal government has gotten involved and also, of course, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). There have been various media reports covering what is happening, and in some cases these reports have painted a picture that connects dots that are not really there.

Amidst all of this, Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment has been following this topic and recently worked with the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Association (FAMA) to provide more insight into why the situation is the way it is. Some might think that we are both in cahoots with the manufacturers so, of course, we’re going to claim this, that, and the other thing. But that’s not what these articles are about. Where we are right now is not the result of one singular event. Coming out of the COVID-19 Pandemic, a confluence of factors rolled together to bring us to where we are today. My ask is that you take a look at what we’ve put together with an open mind. It likely will not satisfy everyone, but there’s a lot more to all this than meets the eye.

As you move into your next purchasing phase, try to set aside all the noise you’re hearing and take a look at the following resources we’ve compiled:

• FAMA Forum: Apparatus Industry Insights
• Understanding the State of Fire Apparatus Manufacturing
• Fire Apparatus Purchasing in 2025
• Understanding Today’s Fire Apparatus Lead Times
• Coming Soon: What’s Driving the Cost of Fire Apparatus?

Remember, consolidation happens in every market, and while some apparatus manufacturer consolidation is getting a lot of attention, there are other areas in the fire service market where consolidation has occurred—and you might not even realize where.

My hope is that we can all take a minute and check into many of the reasons we are where we’re at. If you disagree, I’m OK with that. But, at least take a look at the

The Taylors (SC) Fire Department needed to replace a headquarters station built in 1960 that had been renovated over the years yet still needed major repairs and updating. The department thought it was important to have administrative and firefighting staff under one roof in a new station instead of the two separate buildings at its old headquarters, and also have a separate maintenance facility.

Ultimately, Taylors Fire got what it needed in a new 23,050-square-foot headquarters fire station designed by DP3 Architects.

Chief Bobby Baker says, “We looked at staying at our existing station; however, we received several quotes to renovate, and the quotes were several millions of dollars, almost as expensive as building a new station, prompting us to proceed with new construction. In addition, Taylors is the fifth largest city within Greenville County, making a growing population another need for our new headquarters.”

Baker notes that Taylors Fire serves a population of approximately 31,228 in a coverage area of approximately 16 square miles, which includes a combination of industrial, business, church, school, and residential development. The department has three stations, eight administrative personnel, and 46 full-time paid firefighters running five engines, a platform, a rescue, and a service truck, with an aerial ladder on order.

Baker points out, “We also wanted to make the new living quarters spectacular for our firefighters, making them feel at home so that they can do their best and be their best when responding to our community. In addition, we host training classes a good bit and wanted ample room inside for those, and also more parking.”

The resulting new fire headquarters station, says Jared Sang, DP3 Architects design team leader and project manager, has three drive-through, double-deep apparat

When I stopped for coffee the other morning, the Raisin Squad had just finished solving the day’s major problems – out of control school taxes, biased TV news commentators, too many pot holes in the streets, and no more senior citizen discounts at local restaurants.

Seeking a new target, one asked me why I always criticize old people in the fire service. I replied, I can because I am one and besides just mentioning old age isn’t criticizing. Age is a contentious fact of life that many volunteer departments cannot or will not address. I made a mental note to write a piece later about old people serving as firefighters. Squad members are hypocrites. Most of us are white-haired raisins ranging from our mid-60s to almost 80. Included are former chiefs and even some semiactive (noninterior qualified) members. I always say old timers tell tall tales, stretch the truth, or outright lie so we have to prove half the stuff we’re saying. The proof can be found in photographs, newspaper clippings, or verbal substantiation by at least two people not yet collecting social security. Photographs work best.

Skinnyisms

One morning we were refighting some of the fires we’d been to. As usual, refought fires are quickly extinguished right at the table without anyone breaking a sweat, getting wet, dirty, or overly tired. It happens every time the stories are retold – especially when enhancing, stretching, or trying to remember the facts. I talked about one fire where the white coat at a large deuce-and-a-half wood frame said at the department critique afterwards that, “It was a small fire in the attic that damn near blossomed before the roof got opened.” One geezer said that chief sounded like Skinny. It was.

Ten years ago, I wrote about Skinny and his unique methods of communication: (https://www.fireapparatusmagazine.com/fire-apparatus/cantankerous-wisdom-skinnyisms-and-quahoggers/). A couple days later I found two photographs from the fire and showed them to the Squad holding court at morning coffee. When one geezer asked when the fire was, I said, I thought it was in the mid to late 70s. Another said, “Hell, that was 50 years ago. You can’t remember what you had for supper two nights ago.”

The Fire

You can tell a lot from sequential photographs, however, knowing the “rest of the story” helps prove what you’ve tried to remember. The weekday morning call came in as a structure fire. It was during the era when the department was flush with staff.

Skinny got there first, broke down the front door, ran upstairs, peeked in the attic, slammed the door shut, and bailed out. The best I can recall is that his radio size-up wasn’t much more than, “It’s an attic fire; open the roof!”

The first engine and the quint, both with full crews, pulled in together when Skinny was coming outside. The engine was already laying in per standard operating procedure (SOP). He told them to stretch an inch-and-a-half to the attic but not to open the attic door until it’s vented. Simultaneously, the quint raised the aerial. We brought up a roof ladder, tools, and K-12 saw and started cutting. The rest of the crew started pulling ground ladders.

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