By Julia Burdelski
The Tribune-Review
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh is ordering 13 new fire trucks, using funds donated by Highmark Health.
Mayor Corey O’Connor on Thursday announced the purchases, which will modernize an aging fire truck fleet that is prone to breakdowns and pricy maintenance needs.
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The union representing city firefighters has pushed for improved equipment to replace existing trucks, the oldest of which is 32 years old.
“One of my priorities coming into office was making sure our first responders have reliable vehicles and equipment to do their jobs safely,” O’Connor said in a news release.
Within the first few months of his term, O’Connor has secured $55 million in donations from UPMC and Highmark, which will be used to buy new ambulances and fire trucks over the next five years.
The 13 trucks the city is now ordering — funded by Highmark’s contribution — will include eight new custom engine/pumper trucks and five custom ladder/aerial trucks.
“At Highmark Health, we believe that strong communities depend on strong public institutions, and there are few institutions more essential than the firefighters and emergency responders who protect our neighborhoods every day,” Highmark Health CEO David Holmberg said in a news release.
Officials said a timeline for when the new trucks could be delivered has not yet been determined.
Wait times can stretch to about four years, a problem that prompted the city to file an antitrust lawsuit against fire truck manufacturers in July. The lawsuit alleges fire truck manufacturers have monopolized the market, driving up prices and allowing wait times for new vehicles to drag on for years.
“Reliable, modern fire apparatus is essential to firefighter safety and our ability to protect Pittsburgh’s residents,” Ralph Sicuro , president of the firefighters’ union, said. “Our aging fleet has faced increasing maintenance challenges and limited reserve capacity, making this a significant and much-needed investment.”
Officials for years have raised increasingly urgent alarms about the state of the city’s vehicle fleet, which has been underfunded for years as the city faces serious financial woes. Pittsburgh Controller Rachael Heisler in a report last year cautioned the city could experience “widespread service disruptions” if the fleet isn’t properly upgraded.
Maintaining old vehicles has also been costly, with the city exceeding its vehicle maintenance budget by roughly $600,000 last year.
“These new engines and ladder trucks will make a huge difference for our firefighters to respond quickly and safely to every call,” Acting Fire Chief Mat Davis said.
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