The Baltimore City Firefighters' Union has expressed serious concerns regarding the operational status of fire suppression apparatus in the city, indicating that as many as ten units were out of service at the end of last week. As of Monday, five units remained inactive, prompting fears of slower response times to emergency calls.
Matthew Coster, president of IAFF Local 734, highlighted the implications of having fewer units available. He stated, "If a unit is down, that's taking a longer response time for somebody to get there and that's unacceptable." The union emphasized that mechanical issues have sidelined various apparatus, including engines, ladder trucks, and squad vehicles, which were previously repaired in days but now take weeks or even months due to parts shortages and a lack of available mechanics.
Approximately 40 firefighters have been reassigned to different companies to cover for the units that are undergoing repairs. In a recent social media post, the union urged city officials to take action to ensure more fire apparatus are operational.
"Our city is facing a major public safety crisis," the union stated, pointing out that the age of the equipment is a growing concern. Coster noted that previous city administrations have not adequately replaced aging apparatus, which should ideally be cycled out every ten years. While the city has ordered new units, they are yet to arrive.
City officials are working on a streamlined maintenance process and are in the process of hiring additional mechanics to keep the fleet running efficiently. Councilwoman Odette Ramos commented on the city's commitment to improving the situation, stating, "We're trying to get it so that there aren't as many apparatus out at the same time." During recent budget hearings, fleet management representatives assured that staffing improvements are underway.
According to the Baltimore City Fire Department, only eight apparatus were reported out of service over the weekend, including six engines and two ladder trucks. The department maintained that all active units are prepared to respond to emergencies, with three of the engines having been reactivated as of Monday.
In a statement, the fire department emphasized its ongoing commitment to keeping Baltimore safe, assuring that resources remain available for emergency response.
Reported by HarborBeat based on CBS News (source).
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