HFD to Reach Another Milestone in Reducing Age of Fleet

The City of Houston and the Houston Fire Department continue to work diligently to reduce the age of HFD's fleet. For fiscal year 2020, the department will add 10 new fire trucks to its fleet. Eight engines and two new ladder trucks will replace existing trucks with an average age of 10 years or more. Under the department's current fleet replacement program, this purchase will leave only 24 front line fire engines and 14 ladder/tower trucks that are older than 10 years. In addition, the department will purchase 3 ambulances to replace some of the oldest in the reserve fleet.

This purchase represents a nearly $13 Million investment approved by Mayor Sylvester Turner and City Council, and comes at a time when city resources are tight. The city recently announced it expects to lose more than $100 million in sales tax revenue as a result of the current public health crisis.

“Updating HFD’s fleet continues to be a major priority. Maintenance costs associated with an aging fleet as well as safety issues with 15 to 20 year old vehicles is a problem we have worked diligently to address. Like many departments, our replacement efforts are influenced by community demands and funding, and I thank Mayor Turner and City Council for their continued commitment and investment of taxpayer dollars to secure the purchase and deployment of new fire trucks and other critical equipment.” Chief Sam Peña, Houston Fire.

Under the current administration, the City of Houston has spent more than $30 Million to purchase the following items for the Houston Fire Department:

19 fire engines,
5 ladder trucks
4 tower trucks
24 ambulances
7 Incident command crew cab vehicles and
10 emergency rescue/support 4x4 crew cab units
9- High Water Evacuation Vehicles
10- 4x4 Crew Cab F250 Emergency/Rescue Support Units
10- Double Stacked Evacuation Boats and trailers
3- Rescue Boats designed for swift water operations
1- Inmar Rescue Boat designed for search and rescue operations
6- wave-runners
7- Crew Cab F250 Incident Command Vehicles used by District Chief command officers
3 drones were placed into service for aerial surveillance