Colorado Springs Fire Department working to replace ‘old’ vehicle fleet

The Colorado Springs Fire Department currently has 28 frontline vehicles to respond to daily calls. The average age of CSFD’s frontline vehicles is 12.5 years old.

Reality is though, seven of those 28 are older than 17 years old.

“Our fleet is old,” Deputy Chief Steve Dubay said.

Dubay knows some need replacing.

“We aren’t replacing them as fast as we’d like to,” Dubay said.

In December and January, three firefighters were taken to the hospital with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. They were okay, but after some inspection and repair, the engine has been put into reserves and its frontline spot has been replaced with a new engine.

But those replacements don’t come cheap.

Dubay said an engine costs about half a million dollars, while a truck with a ladder costs a million.

“We’re replacing our fleet with the safety of our firefighters in mind as well as being fiscally responsible so we don’t break the fire department or the city’s budget,” Dubay said.

Three engines were added around the new year, and four more engines and one new truck will be added in 2019.

“We’re actively working to upgrade the age of our fleet to make it newer it just takes time due to budget limitations,” Dubay said.

John Roy, a CSFD firefighter, and the deputy campaign manager for Firefighters for a Safer Colorado Springs sees the department is trying it’s best to replace vehicles now.

“The department is really trying right now to add new fire engines to the fleet. The unfortunate part is we are just a little bit behind,” Roy said.

But Roy said he sees an issue that needs to be addressed.

“We’re still in need of some additional fire engines, some additional fire trucks to meet that 17-year replacement goal that the Colorado Springs Fire Department has,” Roy said.

Roy said follow through on decisions are needed so there’s consistency in the department.

He said Issue 1 on the Colorado Springs April ballot would help.

“We’re looking for a long term voice in public safety. We want to ensure every time there is a new fire chief, every time there is a new mayor, decisions like this – new fire engines, new equipment, it’s consistent,” Roy said.

Right now though, CSFD is focused on keeping their vehicles in good working order to respond to any call. Dubay said there is a current preventative maintenance program in place to make sure all engines are in good working order.