KCKFD struggling with pricey trucks, delayed shipments
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - A basic but essential item that fire departments need is squeezing their budgets and schedules.
Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department staff said fire trucks are costing them double the amount of money and taking years to ship out. Specifically, between two and a half years to five.
Assistant Chief Brett McCoy says roughly seven years ago, one fire truck would cost them $590,000; right now, it’s just shy of $1 million.
“It’s our job to supply the firefighters with the equipment and tools they need to be able to serve the public,” he explained. “When we struggle to provide them with the equipment they need, it’s obviously very frustrating for us.”
Along with the high price tag, their deliveries are taking anywhere between three to five years to hit the metro.
They say they’re trying to combat that by fixing their old or current vehicles, but with repair delays and increased part prices and that’s also putting a strain on them.
“There needs to be an investigation. We’re not trying to be mean-spirited about it. But not having a fire truck,” said Dennis L. Rubin, Interim Fire Chief. “We were so desperate, we were short five fire trucks. The first three we could find and we think the only four we could find, like new, ready-to-roll fire trucks, were the only ones in America.”
Timothy Burn, Press Secretary of the International Association of Fire Fighters, sent KCTV5 an email stating, " A few private equity firms have bought up a dominant share of the fire apparatus manufacturing business and now effectively control the market. The International Association of Fire Fighters and the American Economic Liberties Project sent a t letter urging the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to investigate.”
The issues are a growing concern to the department, but also to the taxpayers who ultimately fund the fire agency.
McCoy stated, these issues do not affect their department’s ability to protect the community.
of the KCK fire department told KCTV5 news they are speaking with state representatives to address this and come up with solutions.
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