San Diego, California – San Diego County firefighters and local leaders are raising the alarm about a crisis in emergency response, blaming corporate consolidation and Wall Street greed for putting lives at risk. As wildfires continue to be a year-round threat, many fire departments are struggling with outdated, unreliable fire trucks that delay response times and undermine safety.
“Fire agencies, both here locally and nationally, have been held hostage over the years by the actions of the fire apparatus manufacturers and under private equity ownership,” said Chief Dave McQuead of the San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association (SDCFCA).
In a region prone to devastating wildfires, the pressure is mounting. “Across California, fire departments are in a fleet crisis,” said Chief Bernie Molloy of the SDCFCA. The crisis is linked to the consolidation of the fire truck manufacturing industry. As fewer companies dominate the market, costs have soared, and delays have worsened. Fire trucks that once cost $1 million now exceed $2 million, and delivery times have stretched from one year to as long as four years…