Atlanta Quickly Closes 3 Fireplace Stations Amid Firefighter, Truck Scarcity

ATLANTA (AP) — The town of Atlanta has quickly closed three of its greater than 30 fireplace stations due to truck breakdowns and a scarcity of firefighters.

Atlanta Fireplace Rescue Chief Roderick Smith informed a Metropolis Council committee of the closures on Monday.

Smith informed the committee that the division had 17 fireplace vans out of service on Monday, together with eight of 31 fireplace engines and 9 of 15 ladder vans. Lots of the vans are being repaired, however these repairs can take months.

Another vans, whereas nonetheless working, don`t have their full capabilities.

“Proper now I believe we’re down to 2 or three totally operational ladder vans in the entire metropolis,” mentioned Dustin Hillis, chair of the council’s Public Security Committee.

Whereas Hillis described the fireplace truck fleet as being “in shambles”, Smith informed council members the state of affairs whereas critical, is “not in a dire area proper now.” He mentioned town is working to exchange its reserve fleet.

Firefighters have seen the variety of emergency calls double in comparison with final 12 months, Smith mentioned. Most calls are for emergency medical service.

The chief mentioned Atlanta has 11 fireplace autos which were ordered however not delivered due to manufacturing backlogs. A few of these vans might be delivered by the top of the month.

Council members are contemplating a proposal to spend $16.4 million to purchase 12 extra fireplace engines, two ladder vans, a platform truck and three different autos. However Smith mentioned new orders of specialised tools might not be delivered for so long as three years.

“The purpose is to aggressively order as a lot tools as potential, however we’ve got to determine the funding,” he mentioned.

Smith informed WANF-TV that the division will proceed to shut completely different stations to offset the tools scarcity.

“I’ve nightmares about conditions the place a fireplace truck or fireplace engine isn’t coming to avoid wasting individuals’s lives,” mentioned Hillis, who mentioned he believes town must spend $12 million a 12 months for every of the following three years on fireplace vans.

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