Milwaukee's fire chief will receive some money purchase new fire apparatus, but the funding is less than half of what the fire chief needs to replace an aging fleet.
The Milwaukee Common Council voted to override Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s veto on Fire Chief Aaron Lipski's request for $10 million to replace a number of fire apparatus, according to WISN.com.
For the last few months, Milwaukee has been using fire apparatus from nearby cities because many of the city's rigs are in need of major repairs. The front wheel of a Milwaukee ladder truck recently fell off, placing another city rig out of service.
"Public safety is not negotiable," Alderman Peter Burgelis said. "Fire trucks are getting older and older, and the investment continues to remain constant."
Calling the city's fire apparatus "the back bone of public safety," Burgelis added, "Today the common council has an opportunity to standup for its residents. We won't wait for tragedy to expose the consequences of outdated equipment. We are acting now, decisively, to protect our firefighters, to protect our neighborhoods and to protect lives."
Lipski said they will be able to purchase three pumpers and one or two aerial ladders, but reminded officials that delivery times may be close to three years.
"I just want to be real clear. I don't I don't hold any ill will towards anybody in this process because they're making decisions for the much bigger picture," Lipski said.
