Los Angeles Fire Department officials said that broken fire engines and a shortage of mechanics hampered their response to the Palisades wildfire.
According to the LA Times, more than 40 engines were unavailable at the time of the January 2025 fire, with many having been out of service for months or years.
Former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told the press that the department should have had three times as many mechanics and that the number of disabled engines influenced decisions on where to send personnel.
Crowley said: “The department should have had three times as many mechanics.”
She added: “That’s why we didn’t send more personnel to fire-prone areas and why we sent home firefighters who showed up to help.”
The LA Times reviewed LAFD maintenance records and found that many of the sidelined fire engines had exceeded their recommended lifespan.
The department told the Fire Commission that 127 of 210 fire engines and 29 of 60 ladder trucks are beyond recommended operational limits.
Assistant Chief Peter Hsiao, who oversees supply and maintenance, said: “As our fleet gets older, the repairs become more difficult.”
Hsiao said: “We’re now doing things like rebuilding suspensions, rebuilding pump transmissions, rebuilding transmissions, engine overhauls.”
Hsiao said long-term funding inconsistencies have made it difficult to address the issue. He also noted that engine costs have doubled since the pandemic and delivery can take more than three years.
The LA Times reported that fire engines were not pre-positioned in the Palisades before the fire despite warnings of extreme weather.
Of the more than 40 reserve engines available, LAFD staffed only five. According to the Times, the department had previously used early deployment strategies in similar conditions.
Crowley’s decisions became a factor in her dismissal less than two months after the fire. Mayor Karen Bass cited the failure to deploy resources ahead of the blaze.
Bass has denied that staffing or resource reductions contributed to the wildfire response.
At the time, 18 firefighters were assigned to the Palisades’ two stations, but only 14 were regularly available for brush fires.
According to the LA Times, the International Association of Fire Fighters has called for a federal investigation into emergency vehicle manufacturer consolidation.
The IAFF warned that the shrinking number of manufacturers has driven up prices and extended wait times for new vehicles.
A letter from the IAFF stated: “These problems have reduced the readiness of fire departments to respond to emergencies, with dire consequences for public safety.”
LAFD union officials told KTLA that underfunding has left the department without enough parts or mechanics to keep up with repair needs.
Frank Líma, LAFD captain and IAFF general secretary treasurer, said: “A one-year little infusion doesn’t help a systemic problem that’s developed over decades.”
Service records reviewed by the LA Times show that 70% of the engines sidelined before the fire were more than 15 years old.
Some vehicles were listed as training apparatus or salvage sources due to age or damage. Only a dozen engines had work orders opened within three months before the fire.
LAFD reported that last year, 97% of work requests were completed, but the rate has dropped to 62% this year.
The department said in an email: “With a greater number of mechanics, we can reduce the delays. However, a limited facility size, parts availability, and warranty repairs compound the issue.”
The LA Times reported that broken and outdated fire engines limited the Los Angeles Fire Department’s ability to respond to the January 2025 Palisades wildfire.
More than 40 engines were in the shop at the time, with many having been out of service for months or years.
Former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said the department lacked sufficient mechanics and resources.
Maintenance records show that 60% of fire engines and 48% of ladder trucks were beyond their recommended service life.
Assistant Chief Peter Hsiao cited funding variability and equipment costs as contributing factors.
Only five reserve engines were staffed before the fire, despite warnings of severe weather.
The IAFF has requested a federal investigation into emergency vehicle manufacturer consolidation.
LAFD service records indicate that 70% of out-of-service engines were over 15 years old.
The department’s reported work completion rate has declined from 97% to 62% this year.
Mayor Karen Bass allocated $68 million in the current budget for new apparatus and equipment.
