San Francisco's fire fleet is aging, with most vehicles over 15 years old, straying from best practices. Lt. Mariano Elias emphasizes that apparatus should be retired after 10 to 15 years, yet many, including a 26-year-old ladder truck, remain in service. Mayor Daniel Lurie has signed legislation permitting private funding for new fire equipment amid skyrocketing costs, with fire engines nearly doubling in price from $750,000 to $1.5 million over a decade. The Board of Supervisors plans to fast track legislation to expedite acquisition, although manufacturing delays could still extend waits to two or three years.
The recommendation is 10 years old max for a front line piece of apparatus and 15 years for a reserve apparatus. What you see behind me should be 15 years max.
A fire engine for example would normally cost $750,000 10 years ago, and now we're looking at $1.5 million, so double the price to this day.
We're going to be able to have legislation to fast track, to be able to get this equipment much sooner.
To get a truck like this it could take as long as three years.
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