With vehicle parts hard to come by and no dates for delivery of new emergency vehicles, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has asked federal authorities for help.
In a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Johnson wrote: "This is a national problem. The American Ambulance Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, and National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians have expressed their concerns in their recent letter to you."
Johnson explained that Dallas Fire-Rescue rented two replacement aerial ladder trucks as an emergency measure with half a dozen frontline trucks and even backup trucks out of service.
One rented vehicle posted at Fire Station 50 in West Oak Cliff Friday was a 2006 model combination pumper and ladder truck that smaller fire departments might use instead of a true ladder truck that Dallas firefighters typically use.
"Manufacturers have informed the City of Dallas that they are not able to fill orders for 27 ambulance chassis and 401 heavy equipment vehicles. Recent extreme weather events have exacerbated this crisis: in August 2022, the City of Dallas lost more than four dozen emergency response vehicles due to an unprecedented flooding event. With wait times at current levels, these vehicles will take more than a year to replace," he wrote.
He noted in his letter that Fort Worth, Austin and Houston are having similar problems.
He continued: "Considering these challenges, I am asking that you urge automobile manufacturers to prioritize the production of first responder vehicles and work with Congressional leadership on any necessary action to meet these critical public safety needs without delay," he wrote.
Dallas police officers are in a similar situation with cruisers, officials told reporters.
With a shortage of vehicles, some officers are doubling up on patrol.
