2023 FDSOA Fire Apparatus, Specification, Maintenance and Fleet Mgmt Conference

The derailment of Tulsa’s fire fleet plan occurred in the mid-2000s when the city found itself with a failing street infrastructure that necessitated repairs. The fire department was ultimately required to postpone apparatus purchases for five years to assist in a street bond package. A five-year fleet purchase hold is manageable; however, five years turned into 11 years, with the department unable to purchase fire apparatus from 2007 until 2018.
Now in 2022, the department finds itself managing a fleet crisis.
How can a fire department emerge from a crisis of this proportion with limited funding, manufacturing timelines of close to two years, and a frontline fleet that is costing 100 to 150% of their original purchase price? It’s a monumental task, and the path forward is both complicated and challenging. However, the path can be successfully traversed when department and city leadership come together to solve the problem.