Inside the department’s repair garage, Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski stood beside a battered fire engine that had been struck during a call this summer. Around him were other trucks sidelined for repairs or inspections. He explained that for every kind of emergency rig (engines, ladders, and rescue units) he has just one backup that can still be put into service. Everything else is stretched thin, outdated, or barely passing inspection.
That’s the backdrop to a growing crisis.
The city’s proposed 2026 budget sets aside just $2 million for vehicle replacements and repairs
The fire department says the real need is closer to $27 million over the next two years to meet national safety standards.
Lipski told local officials that three of Milwaukee’s ladder trucks recently failed their UL Solutions safety testing. That checks the strength and reliability of aerial devices that lift firefighters several stories into the air…