IAFF warns Congress over fire apparatus monopoly in US
Iain Hoey
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IAFF raises alarm on rising fire apparatus costs
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has told the US Senate that consolidation among fire apparatus manufacturers is raising prices and delaying deliveries, putting fire fighters and the public at risk.
According to the IAFF, General President Edward Kelly testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Disaster Management that a small group of companies now control most of the market.
Kelly said manufacturers have raised the cost of engines to over $1 million and ladder trucks to $2 million while extending delivery times to as long as four and a half years.
He warned that this situation has left departments across the country relying on outdated or unsafe vehicles.
Kelly appeared alongside legal, fire service, and industry representatives at the invitation of committee chairman Senator Josh Hawley.
Testimony from IAFF general president
Kelly said: “Steadily and purposefully, apparatus manufacturers have rigged the game. Taking a well-used page out of the corporate big money playbook, a small group of manufacturers have caused prices of fire engines and ladder trucks to balloon in recent years.
“This market manipulation has created a clear and present danger.”
He argued that consolidation driven by private equity was behind what he described as monopoly-like conditions.
Kelly added: “The data compiled by the IAFF and others leads one to conclude that these market conditions were planned and executed by corporate interests that do not share our collective goal of public safety.”
Market share and manufacturer consolidation
The IAFF reported that investment firms including American Industrial Partners have acquired and merged manufacturers in recent years.
It said the result is that REV Group, Oshkosh, and Rosenbauer now control more than 70 percent of the US market.
The organisation stated that this has produced widespread delays and higher costs for departments.
The union explained that engine prices have more than doubled since the mid-2010s, rising from $300,000–$500,000 to over $1 million today.
It continued that ladder trucks are now reaching $2 million and that long delivery times are common.
Equipment delays and safety impacts
Kelly told the Senate that shortages have forced some fire fighters to respond in pickup trucks.
He said the problem is nationwide, affecting urban, suburban, and rural areas as well as both career and volunteer departments.
He pointed to a recent Chicago house fire where Tower Ladder 14 stalled during a rescue.
Kelly said: “Fire fighters had to restart the truck to raise the ladder and rescue victims.
“And the scariest part is, today on Sept. 10, two-and-a-half months after that incident, that very same rig is still in service.”
Senators challenge manufacturers
Hawley rejected claims by manufacturers that inflation and the COVID pandemic explain the delays.
He said: “Your CEO said that it is your business practice to have these backlogs.
“It is a deliberate company strategy, isn’t it? Your CEO is boasting about it on earnings calls.”
Hawley criticised REV Group’s dividend payments and stock buybacks.
He said: “Another word for this would be a heist.”
REV Group’s Mike Virnig told the committee the backlog was linked to a 43 percent increase in orders between 2022 and 2023, but Hawley disputed the explanation.
Senator Andy Kim also suggested that higher prices were part of the business model.
Political and legal scrutiny of fire apparatus industry
The IAFF noted that in May it urged the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to investigate the industry.
It said lawmakers have also taken steps, with Senators Jim Banks and Elizabeth Warren opening a bipartisan inquiry into private equity’s influence.
Hawley and Kim have written to the three main manufacturers requesting answers on pricing and delivery.
Kelly has called for Congress to strengthen oversight and coordinate with federal agencies.
He said: “We’re seeing this crisis play out in fire departments across America. We need to stop this now, and this committee is on the right track.”
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
Fire and safety professionals rely on equipment that is both safe and available without long delays.
The IAFF testimony highlights how consolidation has reshaped access to engines and ladder trucks, with costs now exceeding $1 million.
This affects procurement planning, operational readiness, and the ability to maintain safe fleets.
Departments may need to extend the service life of older equipment, raising maintenance and safety concerns for fire fighters and the communities they serve.
IAFF warns Congress over fire apparatus monopoly in US: Summary
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) warned the US Senate that fire apparatus consolidation is increasing prices and delays.
IAFF General President Edward Kelly testified that consolidation has left three manufacturers controlling more than 70 percent of the US market.
He said this has raised engine costs to over $1 million and ladder trucks to $2 million.
Delivery times now extend up to four and a half years.
Kelly said departments nationwide are using outdated and unsafe vehicles.
He cited a Chicago incident where a stalled ladder delayed a fire rescue.
Senator Josh Hawley challenged manufacturers, quoting company earnings calls that praised backlogs.
Hawley said companies were rewarding investors instead of addressing shortages.
REV Group argued the backlog came from a 43 percent increase in orders.
Senator Andy Kim said higher costs appeared to be part of the business model.
The IAFF has urged the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate.
Lawmakers including Senators Jim Banks and Elizabeth Warren have also launched a bipartisan inquiry.
Kelly called on Congress to expand oversight and coordinate with federal agencies.
