The Atlanta Professional Firefighters addressed city leaders in a strongly worded letter on Tuesday, warning the city’s fleet of emergency response vehicles is in dire condition. Its letter came after Atlanta Fire and Rescue informed the city of its decision to formally close three fire stations due to vehicle and staffing issues.
In a letter obtained by Atlanta First News, firefighters claimed that many of Atlanta’s fire stations lack an actual fire engine with water capable of extinguishing a fire. They stated that this implies the actual number of non-operational fire stations is higher than the three identified by the city on Monday.
Atlanta firefighters reported that they are currently short eight fire engines, which they warned implies that there are an equal number fire stations in Atlanta that are “not in operation.” The city is also down nine ladder trucks, and the union warned this means those fire stations that are operational will have diminished search and rescue capabilities during emergency operations. Worse, they said Atlanta ordered just one “frontline engine” and one “frontline truck” since 2018.
“There has never, in modern history, been a fire fleet as bad as our current fleet,” the union warned before adding that “firefighters can’t keep begging for basics.” The union noted the mayor “would give us the shirt off his back” and called for city leadership to responsibly plan for new equipment.
On social media, the union warned the lack of fire engines and rescue vehicles “leaves the citizens vulnerable” and will likely result in delays in emergency response, describing it as a “dire situation.”
Atlanta Fire and Rescue Chief Roderick Smith informed the Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee of his decision to close three stations on Monday, and 11 Alive reported that Councilman Dusty Hills acknowledged the situation has been brewing for over a decade.
Smith determined that Station 22 on Hollywood Road, Station 23 on Howell Mill Road, and Station 30 on Cleveland Avenue should be closed. Approximately 60 percent of AFR’s fleet of ladder trucks and 25 percent of the department’s fire engines are currently out of service.
Smith assured Atlantans that the department is responding to emergency calls despite the closures and the vehicle shortages during his appearance before city council on Monday, the outlet noted, with the chief acknowledging vehicles are responding to calls, though without “the ladder trucks there.”
AFR is not the only public safety agency suffering in the Atlanta area, as the Fulton County Jail continues to deteriorate amid severe overcrowding. Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat requested an emergency $30 million in funding to improve the facility, which is now under investigation by the Department of Justice and is being probed by the Georgia State Senate.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Georgia Star News and a reporter for the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
