Fire chiefs urge action as high prices and long wait times raise public safety concerns

By Belinda Torres, 2026 Ronald O. Loveridge Summer Fellow, and Brian Hendershot, Cal Cities Advocate managing editor

Excessive prices and wait times for new fire apparatus are jeopardizing the state’s emergency response system and putting communities at risk, state and local fire chiefs told lawmakers on Monday.

“The current fire apparatus across the state … is being held together with duct tape and baling wire,” Cal OES Fire and Rescue Chief Brian Marshall said.

Cal Cities organized the Assembly Emergency Management Committee informational hearing as part of a broader education and advocacy effort.

The fire chiefs alleged that the high prices and long wait times are largely driven by the consolidation of the fire apparatus manufacturing industry. Today, three major players control up to 80% of the nation’s fire apparatus market. In California, delivery times have increased from 18 months to nearly five years, while the price of a fire engine has risen from under $600,000 to about $1.1 million.

Vendors also now routinely include contract clauses that allow the final price of a fire truck to change between the order date and delivery date. These clauses make it difficult for cities to budget for fire apparatuses, which are usually the most expensive purchases a city makes.

“These three primary manufacturers have literally put emergency response in California in a chokehold,” said Napa Fire Chief Zach Curren. “I’m deeply concerned that if left unchecked, these market conditions in manufacturing will critically limit our ability to respond to emergency situations.”

The chiefs noted that delays and price hikes have also impacted maintenance for existing vehicles. “Some of our equipment apparatus maintenance personnel have literally had to go to eBay to try to find parts that can maybe meet the close need of what a proprietary piece of equipment was on one of these fire engines because they’re not made anymore,” said Fullerton Fire Chief Adam Loeser.

When prices rise and delivery times get excessively long, cities have no choice but to keep old and outdated equipment, reducing operational readiness and delaying emergency response for communities.

In general, members of the committee struck a sympathetic tone, with many highlighting the need for more guardrails, particularly around large corporate mergers.

“We don’t want to be held hostage by private entities, who maybe bite off more than they chew in regard to merging and closing and then not being able to deliver as the state experiences climate change and more fires than we’ve seen before,” said Committee Chair Rhodesia Ransom.

The group on Monday discussed legislative options with lawmakers that would shorten manufacturing time, as well as an examination of market concentration, pricing practices, barriers to new manufacturers, and impacts on public agency procurement.

The group of fire chiefs also included Jake Shaw, Cal Fire deputy director of fire protection; Jon O’Brien, chief deputy of emergency operations for Los Angeles County; and Garret Huff, Santa Barbara County fire chief.

The hearing on Monday was part of a multiyear effort by regional, national, and international groups to spur action at the state and federal levels. To learn how your city can get involved, contact your regional public affairs manager.