City Firefighters Blame Old, Broken Equipment for Disaster
Firefight at Palisades remained unaffected by engine damage, yet the issue underscores a more significant concern.
Fire officials in Los Angeles admitted they were hamstrung by antiquated, busted fire engines during the Palisades disaster. Among the numerous engines out of commission were several that hadn't seen action in years, despite the city possessing dozens of alternatives.
In the days following the Palisades inferno, which turned out to be one of the costliest and most devastating disasters in the city's history, high-ranking personnel at the Los Angeles Fire Department pointed to faulty engines and a shortage of mechanics to fix them as obstacles to a swift response.
However, a Times examination of engine work orders shows that many of these engines had been idle for months or even years, indicating a broader issue: the LAFD's reliance for years on an aging fleet of engines.
If the roughly 40 engines that were out of action had been repaired, department officials said, the drama surrounding the fire might have unfolded differently. They claim that fire officials failed to dispatch adequate personnel to fire-prone areas as the winds intensified, and that they sent firefighters home who had shown up to help as the blaze raged out of control.
Yet, the work orders suggest a deeper conundrum: the city's overreliance on an outdated engine fleet.
According to an LAFD report presented to the city's Fire Commission last month, 127 out of 210 fire engines – 60% – and nearly half of the ladder trucks – 48% – are operating beyond their recommended lifespans.
The union representing LAFD firefighters, United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, has also raised concerns about the antiquated engines, arguing that the heavy wear and tear on frontline vehicles necessitates urgent fleet replacement.
The problem, Frank Líma, the union's general secretary treasurer and an LAFD captain, claims, is that officials are resorting to older reserve engines – often less reliable – when regular engines are under repair. Over the past three years, LAFD has utilized an average of 80% of the reserve trucks, engines, and ambulances they have on hand, according to Fire Commission data.
Department Assistant Chief Peter Hsiao, who oversees supply and maintenance, acknowledges that the repairs on aging vehicles become more problematic over time. “With our fleet growing older,” he stated, “repairs become more complex.”
The situation is compounded by the fact that new engine and truck prices have doubled since the pandemic. Engines that once cost $775,000 or less now command prices nearing $1.5 million, while construction has extended to three years or more.
To make matters worse, the number of fire engine manufacturers has declined, with recent consolidation in the industry resulting in increased costs and extreme delays, according to an IAFF request to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.
Meanwhile, the California mayor's office announced earlier this year that it secured $51 million to purchase new equipment for the LAFD, along with nearly $68 million in the recent city budget for additional firefighting vehicles.
However, Líma isn't optimistic about these short-term infusions to address the LAFD's systemic issues. Instead, he believes the department shouldn't rely on firefighter salaries to fund the Fire Department.
The LAFD fleet's service records show that some engines were burned in fires, while others were damaged in accidents, awaiting parts, or suffering from oil leaks and head gasket issues. Roughly 70% of the engines out of service prior to the fire were over 15 years old.
The consolidation among emergency vehicle manufacturers, Líma argues, has resulted in skyrocketing costs and "brutal" wait times. These delays, he believes, have reduced fire departments' readiness to respond to emergencies, endangering public safety.
- The Los Angeles Fire Department's reliance on an aging fleet of fire engines, with 60% operating beyond their recommended lifespans, has been brought to light, due to the Palisades wildfires.
- The union representing LAFD firefighters, United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, has echoed concerns about the antiquated engines, stating that the heavy wear and tear on frontline vehicles necessitates urgent fleet replacement.
- In the midst of these concerns, the California mayor's office recently secured $51 million to purchase new equipment for the LAFD, but Frank Líma, the union's general secretary treasurer, remains skeptical that these funds will effectively address the LAFD's systemic issues.
- The consolidation among emergency vehicle manufacturers, argues Líma, has resulted in skyrocketing costs and extensive delays in new engine and truck production, potentially compromising public safety, especially in sports, education-and-self-development, and health-sensitive locations across California.
