The Columbus Fire Union has raised pressing concerns over the state of its fire fleet, citing a critical shortage of vehicles that could potentially hinder both training for recruits and emergency response times for the community. According to a report by NBC4i, records reveal maintenance downtime has increased from an average of 409 days in March 2016 to 584 days as of March 2025. The union's President, Steve Stein, emphasized the equipment shortages during training. "When we increase needlessly the risks of this job because of deferred investments and using equipment beyond its useful life, that’s unacceptable," Stein told NBC4i.
Despite repeated requests for more funding, highlighted in emails going back to 2022, the fire division's capital budget has remained at $6 million, far below what is considered necessary to maintain and replace the aging fleet. According to a statement obtained by ABC6, the union has asked the city to acknowledge what they describe as an "apparatus crisis," where makeshift repairs have included duct tape and wrenches to hold parts together. Stein voiced his concerns, saying, "In some cases, you have equipment that is duct-taped together. In other cases, there are pictures where you have a pump panel where the throttle that controls how much water is coming to the fire hose is being held on the truck with a wrench."
In response to the union's claims, the City of Columbus and the Division of Fleet Management contend that the fire fleet is "in better condition than it has been in many years," pointing to capital commitments made over the last decade. Despite these statements, data and maintenance records suggest an increase in downtime for repairs. The city's promises of six new vehicle purchases do little to immediately alleviate the shortages, with manufacturing backlogs post-COVID-19 causing delivery times to extend from traditionally 12 months to up to four years, as noted by NBC4i.
Adding to the urgency, expected delays in vehicle deliveries mean the current fleet shortfall could persist until at least 2026, as per warnings from Stein. This situation not only affects response capabilities but also directly impacts the training of new fire academy recruits, with recent classes facing canceled sessions due to the unavailability of fire trucks, as reported by a WBNS article. "Now, the fire chief issued a directive whereby we could be in a situation where recruits will not get mandatory training they need to hit the street and be ready to serve the residents of Columbus, or we would needlessly hold them down," Stein told 10tv.
The union's call for action seeks an emergency apparatus replacement strategy to ensure adequate equipment and training for firefighters. As the city and the Columbus Fire Division navigate budget constraints and lengthy procurement processes, the urgency voiced by the fire union reflects a dilemma between fiscal responsibility and the critical needs of a growing city's safety services.
