The Houston Fire Department (HFD) welcomed a new $1.5 million ladder truck in June but it’s sitting in an empty city parking lot because it doesn’t fit inside the station it was assigned, abc13.com reported.

Three years ago, HFD requested a new ladder truck to replace the one firefighters had been using for several years at Station 61.

When the new truck arrived this June, fire officials say, the new truck was too tight for firefighters to get in and out of safely, the report said.

Officials with the city and HFD said the mistake won’t impact public safety, according to the report. The plan now is to renovate the fire station so that the truck will fit.

HFD sent the following statement, according to the report:

“The Houston Fire Department received a new ladder truck on June 9 intended for Fire Station 61. While the ladder truck fits in the bay door, the clearances are narrow, and when combined with the grade of the driveway, it is currently unfeasible to keep the ladder truck in service at this location. We are working with the General Services Department to reconstruct the bay door and provide safer clearance for the new apparatus. Once construction is completed, Station 61 will receive the new ladder truck. The current ladder truck will remain at the station so response is not interrupted.”

The post New $1.5M Ladder Truck Too Big to Fit in TX Station appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Parsippany (NJ) fire districts 1, 3 and 6 will unite to hold a quadruple wetdown ceremony 4-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at 6 Century Drive in Parsippany.

Mount Tabor Fire District No. 1, Lake Parsippany Fire District No. 3, and Parsippany Fire District No. 6 will show off four new rigs from E-ONE and Absolute Fire Protection Company, Inc.

• Engine 15 and Tower 11 will be welcomed by the Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire Department (District 1).

• Tower 6 from Parsippany Troy-Hills Fire District 6.

• Engine 34 from Lake Parsippany Volunteer Fire Company District 3.

Here’s what will be happening at the event:

• Live music
• Four new rigs from E-ONE Fire Trucks (Official Site) and Absolute Fire Protection Co. Inc.
• Beer and soda included with your $15 mug purchase
• Free food while it lasts
• Kids’ activities and inflatables
• North Jersey Gellyball
• Cigars for sale
• Limited merch available

This is a community-wide celebration of safety, service, and brotherhood—come out and support your local firefighters.

Bring the family, bring your crew, and bring your thirst.

The post Three Parsippany (NJ) Fire Districts Unite to Hold Quadruple Wetdown appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

The Huntington Fire Department broke ground on the new Flaxmill Road fire station recently, following a city council vote Aug. 26, 2025, giving the project final approval, the city said in a press release.

“This new station will enable our dedicated firefighters to respond to our growing north side with greater speed and efficiency, while still maintaining quick access to our downtown and east side neighborhoods,” Chief Tony Johnson said. “Designed with firefighter health and safety as a top priority, the facility includes clearly defined zones that separate the apparatus bay from the living quarters, ensuring a healthier and safer environment for our crews.”

The new station’s location is 1005 Flaxmill Road in northwest Huntington on a nearly three-acre site the city purchased in 2008 with the intent to build a fire station.

The need to replace the aging Condit Street station has only increased since then. Now nearly 50 years old, the current station on Huntington’s east side is outdated and overcrowded.

The new two-story, 17,750-square-foot Flaxmill Road station is designed to meet the department’s modern operational needs, with a focus on firefighter safety, rapid response and advanced training.

Features will include:

• A location near major thoroughfares and growing residential and industrial areas, improving response times citywide.
• Advanced air filtration and decontamination systems to protect firefighters after emergency calls.
• Positive pressure air locks to separate the fire bay from living quarters, minimizing exposure to contaminants and potential carcinogens.
• A dedicated training tower for realistic fire and rescue simulations.
• Expanded, modernized living quarters, administrative offices and community meeting spaces.
• Capacity for eight on-duty firefighters and four administrative staff, ensuring 24/7 readiness.

The total project cost is estimated at $12.6 million. The city will spend approximately $3 million in available cash-on-hand and issue lease bonds through the Huntington Redevelopment Authority to cover the remaining cost. 

Foundation and other site concrete work will be completed first, with building construction to begin early next year. The new station’s grand opening is currently on track for late 2026.

Financial planning has been overseen by consultants from Baker Tilly to ensure a responsible spending plan. The city worked with architects from Shive Hattery to design the new station, with Weigand Construction set to begin foundation work after the groundbreaking.

The existing Condit Street station will remain operational throughout construction. The city is still determining the future use of that building that will best serve the community.

The Huntington Fire Department will continue to operate its south side station on Etna Avenue during and after the project.

The post IN Fire Department Breaks Ground on New $12.6M Station appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Editor’s Note: Since early 2025, there has been scrutiny on fire apparatus manufacturers resulting from industry-wide lead time and cost increases. Build times are well beyond the traditional 18 months to which we have become accustomed, and costs have increased far more quickly than in previous years. There are many reasons for this, and on September 10, 2025, representatives from Pierce Manufacturing, REV Specialty Vehicles Group, the Kansas City (KS) Fire Department, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and the Antimonopoly Counsel testified before Senators Hawley and Kim on the challenges our industry faces. What follows are the opening remarks from Dan Meyer, Vice President of Sales, Pierce Manufacturing as well as resources you can use to learn more about the current apparatus purchasing atmosphere.

—Chris Mc Loone, Editor in Chief

“Chairman Hawley, Ranking Member Kim, and members of the Subcommittee:

“Thank you for the opportunity to discuss Pierce’s mission of delivering high-quality, innovative fire trucks that help firefighters protect and serve our communities. It’s my honor to assist the Subcommittee’s work on important issues facing fire apparatus manufacturers. My name is Dan Meyer, and I’m the Vice President of Sales at Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation business. I’ve spent the vast majority of my career at Pierce because I believe in our mission and know firsthand the impact that Pierce has on my community.

“I was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, where Pierce started over a century ago and continues to operate to this day. Our story is uniquely American. Pierce began as a father-and-son shop building truck bodies on Model T Ford chassis. Today, Pierce proudly builds American-made fire trucks manufactured by over 3,000 craftsmen, welders, and engineers across 10 principal facilities in Wisconsin, Florida, and Tennessee. We do so with firefighters top of mind. Whether supporting them as Pierce builds the trucks they need, walking them throughout our facilities along the build cycle, or standing beside them on the final inspection of their apparatus, I have the honor of engaging with these heroes daily. At Pierce, I also work alongside more than 100 active and former firefighters and other first responders. I think it’s clear, our mission is personal.

“It’s a privilege to be here alongside witnesses that include such distinguished fire service leaders. President Kelly and Chief Rubin are public servants dedicated to making our communities safer. That is why I take their concerns so seriously. At Pierce, we are unwavering in our support of the American fire service. We will always honor our more than century-long commitment to being transparent with our customers.

“I share the Subcommittee’s serious concern about the industry-wide prolonged lead times seen since the pandemic, when demand for fire apparatus skyrocketed as supply chains and labor became strained. The current lead times, which are a function of that demand spike, are unacceptable, and Pierce remains laser-focused on reducing them to pre-pandemic norms.

“I’m happy to share that – while there is work left to do, Pierce has been making progress. We shipped more trucks last quarter than any other in Pierce’s history. We acknowledged the lead time problem as soon as it emerged, and we have made – and will continue to make – historic investments to increase throughput.

“Since lead times began to extend in 2022, Pierce has invested approximately $50 million to increase throughput, and we have another $100 million on the way. In less than three years, Pierce grew our workforce by more than 25%, adding nearly 800 good-paying American jobs.

“We expanded our manufacturing space by 28%, adding nearly 500,000 square feet. In short, we are significantly increasing