Southern California fire departments say lifesaving fire equipment costs and build times are skyrocketing. They blame private equity firms

Southern California fire departments say the cost and delivery times of lifesaving fire apparatus have escalated sharply, and they attribute much of the problem to private equity consolidation in the industry, according to a CBS LA report published October 13, 2026.

The report describes the operational impact. During the Pointe Fire in Santa Clarita on July 15, the blaze encroached on homes, a school bus yard and Congregation Beth Shalom, where flames reached the preschool playground. Fire Station 150 nearby houses an engine with more than 233,000 miles. According to Los Angeles County Fire Captain Aaron Katon, industry standards call for 15 years on the frontline followed by 10 years in reserve, yet Engine 150 is 20 years old and still in frontline service. Katon said much of the county fleet dates to 2006 and 2007, and that departments everywhere face the same problem.

Cost increases are central to the complaints. Fullerton Fire Chief Adam Loeser showed CBS California Investigates a 2022 fire truck purchased for $1.5 million; buying the same vehicle new today would cost roughly $2.3 million to $2.5 million. Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustine said departments are "getting priced out of the market" and that the safety of their communities is affected. He added that his department was recently quoted a 45-month build time.

In response, Fullerton, the County of Los Angeles and the State of California have filed federal antitrust lawsuits against several fire apparatus manufacturers, including those owned by REV Group. The plaintiffs describe a "consolidation scheme," and their complaint states that "Private equity has played a pivotal role in this destruction of competition." REV Group lists about a dozen fire apparatus and emergency vehicle brands under its umbrella and declined an interview request. During a Senate hearing last fall, REV Group president Mike Virnig said the company is hiring "hundreds of, if not thousands" of skilled laborers and has invested millions in each factory, with build times targeted at about one year. Pierce Manufacturing VP Dan Meyer said the lawsuit against Pierce is "without merit." In August, REV Group, Oshkosh, its subsidiary Pierce and Rosenbauer jointly moved to dismiss the antitrust class action; a spokesperson for Pierce and Oshkosh cited "the lack of factual support for these claims." In July, a bipartisan group of lawmakers filed a resolution asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate private equity and large-company consolidation in the industry.

Several fire chiefs told CBS California Investigates that pandemic-era demand and increased federal spending created supply shortages. Former La Verne fire chief Chris Nigg described an engine delivered in 2024, three years after it was ordered, whose diesel engine failed within weeks and required more than six months to rebuild. Nigg acknowledged manufacturers need to earn a profit but said prices have not plateaued. Age is also a safety question: in May, LA City Fire Engine 274, 19 years old and without airbags or rollover protection, was involved in a rollover crash that injured two firefighters, and the investigation is considering whether age was a factor. The LA City Fire Department declined an interview because the city has filed its own lawsuit.