By Chevall Pryce
Baltimore Sun
BALTIMORE — Five Baltimore City Fire Department engines and trucks were out of commission Monday for mechanical reasons, according to the city’s firefighters’ union, but the department said the companies and personnel assigned to those vehicles remained on duty and available to respond to emergencies.
The union reported that one engine and four trucks were out of service, including apparatus serving Fells Point, Highlandtown, Reservoir Hill and Park Heights.
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BCFD operates 17 truck companies and 32 engine companies, according to a department presentation to the City Council. The reported outages amounted to about 24% of its truck companies and 3% of its engine companies.
In a statement, the department said it expected three engines to return from repairs Tuesday and one truck to be reactivated.
“The companies and personnel assigned those units remained open and on-duty, maintaining the resources to fully respond to calls for service,” the department said.
Matthew Coster, president of the Baltimore Firefighters IAFF Local 734 union, said the issues affecting the availability of fire apparatuses is nothing new due to the age of BCFD’s current fleet and lack of apparatuses in reserve.
“This directly impacts our ability to provide emergency services to the citizens of Baltimore,” Coster said. “When companies are unavailable, other units must cover larger response areas, potentially increasing response times and placing additional demands on the remaining companies. In our profession, seconds matter, and any reduction in available resources should be taken seriously.
The department faced a similar shortage in September, when the union reported three engines and five trucks out of service. Coster said at the time that the department had experienced as many as 11 or 12 simultaneous outages in recent months.
The Mayor’s Office did not respond to a request for comment.
What is wrong with the equipment?
Coster said mechanical failures are common with fire trucks and engines, but the lack of reserve vehicles leaves the department with fewer options when an apparatus needs repairs. He said IAFF Local 734 has repeatedly raised concerns about the department’s aging fleet.
“Our firefighters are expected to provide the highest level of emergency service to the citizens of Baltimore, and they deserve to have reliable equipment to do that job safely,” Coster said. “The citizens of Baltimore deserve that same reliability. They should never have to question whether an engine or truck will be available when they call 911.”
Coster said the city needs a long-term plan to replace aging apparatus, maintain existing vehicles and ensure the department has enough reserves to support daily operations.
“The City needs to make a serious, sustained investment in replacing aging equipment, maintaining its existing fleet, and ensuring there are enough reliable reserve apparatus to support daily operations,” Coster said. “There needs to be a long-term fleet replacement strategy that accounts for the Department’s workload, and the inevitable maintenance needs of these vehicles.”
When companies are unavailable, the remaining firefighters may have to cover additional calls and larger response areas, Coster said. The shortages can also add to overtime costs.
Baltimore City Council held a hearing earlier this year on overtime costs for the fire department and Baltimore Police Department , which have faced staffing and equipment challenges.
“For our firefighters, this creates additional stress and operational challenges,” Coster said. “Members are already dealing with staffing shortages, overtime, and an extremely demanding call volume. When apparatuses are unavailable, the remaining companies are required to pick up that workload.”
Acquiring new trucks is not the solution
IAFF Local 734 has been in conversation with BCFD about purchasing new trucks and engines, Coster said. But the cost and time required to replace apparatus mean new purchases alone will not immediately resolve the shortage.
A new fire engine can cost approximately $1.1 million, according to the International Association of Firefighters, while ladder trucks can cost $2 million or more. Delivery can take years, making reserve vehicles and maintenance important parts of the department’s ability to keep companies in service.
More reserve vehicles, and proper maintenance, would help BCFD more than a few new vehicles. Coster said these structural changes, which would require more funding, are needed to keep the city safe.
“At some point, the City must recognize that these are not isolated incidents, but symptoms of a much larger problem that needs to be addressed,” Coster said.
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