Private Equity's Fire Truck Monopoly: A Public Safety Crisis

A crisis is brewing in American fire departments: skyrocketing fire truck prices and extended delivery times, driven by private equity consolidation of manufacturers, are endangering public safety. Aging fleets are retiring with no affordable replacements—new trucks cost upwards of $2 million—leaving many departments understaffed and ill-equipped. Some are resorting to using dilapidated vehicles or pickup trucks, severely impacting response times. This crisis highlights the negative impact of private equity consolidation on essential services and has spurred calls for antitrust investigations.