Reserve Fire Department

The problems with D.C.’s aging fleet of fire vehicles are well-documented over the years. Information4's Mark Segraves reports. (Published Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016)

What to Know

• Tower 3, the actual only real device capable of facilitating team evacuations from tall buildings, has-been out since Aug. 29.

• Two regarding the department’s 16 ladder fire trucks tend to be out-of solution, and there aren't any book trucks offered.

• “We have been in year two of a six or eight year rebuilding of our apparatus fleet. We put seven brand new vehicles in service since 2015.”

As the Washington, D.C., will continue to count on a fleet of private ambulances to maintain with 911 call demand, the district’s fleet of fire trucks is once again dropping behind. Two of this department’s 16 ladder fire vehicles are out-of solution, and there are not any book vehicles readily available.

Tower 3, the only device with the capacity of facilitating team evacuations from high buildings, was out since Aug. 29 and is assigned as a first responder for problems within White House. Truck 15 is out for repair works.

“There's no doubt that a completely practical fleet with reserves is necessary for very first responders, whether it is police or fire, ” said Phil Mendelson, chairman regarding the Council of the District of Columbia.

The difficulties with D.C.’s aging fleet of fire vehicles have been well-documented over the years. Under previous Mayor Vincent Gray and Chief Kenneth Ellerbee, the division moved several years without purchasing any new cars.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and Chief Gregory Dean pledged to fix that but budgeted vast amounts for brand new vehicles.

“Each time we believe we have a fix, several years later on, (it) works out we didn't have the fix, ” stated Ward 3 D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh.

“I thought they had turned the place pertaining to maintenance, ” Mendelson stated.

In a written statement, Doug Buchanan, spokesman for the DC Fire and crisis Medical providers division said, “We are in year two of a six or eight year rebuilding of your equipment fleet. We have placed seven new vehicles in service since 2015.”

*Trucks 7 and 13 positioned in solution in May 2016

*Trucks 6, 14 and 9 put in service January 2016

“Our reserve fleet is completing, presently changing forward range ladder company trucks, so as to make some significant long standing mechanical and protective repair works to ensure all of our device fleet can satisfy (nationwide Fire Protection Association) standards, ” Buchanan said.