As intense heat continues across the area, first responders in some Wake County towns are experiencing air conditioning failures in firetrucks.
In Holly Springs, Fire Chief LeRoy Smith says three of the department's six front-line vehicles are without functioning air conditioning. It's an issue that Smith said several departments are experiencing.
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"I spoke to one of our vendors this morning that's working on one of our trucks. He said he has 30 fire trucks in the cue right now, all with air conditioning issues," Smith said.
The location of the engines in some fire response vehicles can cause cabins to heat up as high as 120 degrees without air conditioning, according to Smith. The necessary gear for fire-related calls can add approximately 100 pounds of weight to first responders in the heat.
"Air conditioning on fire trucks is notoriously prone to failures and repair needs. These systems operate in extreme environments with prolonged idling, high engine compartment temperatures, constant vibration, and custom plumbing configurations that make diagnosing and repairing issues difficult," a Town of Holly Springs spokesperson wrote in a statement to WRAL.
Holly Springs is set to receive three new fire trucks from a manufacturer beginning next spring. Until then, Smith describes a balancing act between having enough vehicles ready for service and sending in trucks for repair.
"We take a truck out of service to get the A/C repaired, then we don't have it to provide service for the community," Smith said. "We're rotating trucks through as they're available to get A/C's fixed."
Town officials say first responders have options to wear short-sleeve clothing when not fighting a fire. Smith says EMS crews can also assist in monitoring and cooling first responders when they are at a call.
This comes as fire departments see longer wait times for new firetrucks. Smith said the increase started during the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning department fleets get older as the lag time for updated vehicles grows.
"A ladder truck that would normally have taken us a year before COVID is taking us three to four years now. Engines are taking two years," Smith said.
Last year, WRAL reported on the rising costs and growing delays departments face when purchasing new fire response vehicles.
A national firefighters union has urged the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate three fire engine manufacturers for possible antitrust practices. Fire manufacturers say lingering pandemic related challenges and demand are to blame for the price increases and delivery delays.
Officials with the City of Raleigh tell WRAL that the fire department is not experiencing any widespread air conditioning failures in fire trucks.
Fire officials in the City of Durham did not immediately respond to WRAL's request seeking data related to air conditioning maintenance in fire trucks.