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Southwest Washington fire officials face skyrocketing costs to replace aging vehiclesSubscriber Exclusive

Higher costs, backlogs hinder effort to replace aging vehicles

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category icon Camas, Clark County, Government, Public Safety
Capt. James Tierney stands in the front door of a fire engine March 21 at Camas Fire Station 42. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian files)

Capt. James Tierney stands in the front door of a fire engine March 21 at Camas Fire Station 42. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian files)

Now-former Fire Chief Kristan Maurer stands in front of a new fire engine July 13, 2023, at Clark County Fire District 6 Station 62. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian files)

Now-former Fire Chief Kristan Maurer stands in front of a new fire engine July 13, 2023, at Clark County Fire District 6 Station 62. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian files)

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, in plaid, holds a roundtable with Clark County first responders at Vancouver City Hall on June 20, 2024. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian files)

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, in plaid, holds a roundtable with Clark County first responders at Vancouver City Hall on June 20, 2024. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian files)

Capt. James Tierney stands in the front door of a fire engine March 21 at Camas Fire Station 42. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian files)

Capt. James Tierney stands in the front door of a fire engine March 21 at Camas Fire Station 42. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian files)

In April 2020, just one month into the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vancouver Fire Department replaced one of its aging fire engines with a new rig that cost $614,000. Today, that same fire engine, built by the same manufacturer to the same specifications, will cost Vancouver taxpayers $972,000 and take twice as long to arrive.

Skyrocketing costs and wait times for fire apparatus have forced fire officials throughout the country, including those in Southwest Washington, to reevaluate how they operate.

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