Fire Equipment Running on Fumes: Alderman Burgelis Sounds Alarm on Critically Underfunded Fleet Needs

As the Common Council Finance Committee continues deliberations on the 2026 city budget, Alderman Peter Burgelis is warning that the Milwaukee Fire Department’s aging fleet is nearing a breaking point, and that the Mayor’s proposed $2 million allocation for new fire vehicles falls dangerously short of what’s needed to protect public safety.

According to the department’s fleet replacement plan, the City must replace at least eight frontline engines and six ladder trucks across 2026 and 2027 to maintain safe, reliable emergency response capability. The total replacement cost is estimated at $27.8 million over the next two years — just one-seventh of what the Mayor’s proposal would cover.

“Fire engines, ladder trucks, and ambulances aren’t luxuries. They’re life-saving equipment,” said Alderman Burgelis. “Every additional mile on an aging rig increases repair costs, raises the risk of mechanical failure during an emergency, and slows the department’s ability to respond when seconds count. That’s a risk Milwaukee simply can’t afford.”

The department’s fleet summary paints an alarming picture:

·Without additional investment, half of Milwaukee’s frontline fire fleet will exceed the National Fire Protection Association’s maximum lifespan of 15 years by 2027.

·All reserve units will surpass the NFPA’s 20-year age limit, further straining the city’s backup emergency response capacity.

Alderman Burgelis noted that while the Mayor’s $2 million proposal barely covers a fraction of the need, the data offers a clear path forward, if the city acts now.

“This is about maintaining the safety of our neighborhoods and keeping the essential tools of public safety operational,” he said. “We can’t fight fires with trucks that belong in a museum. Either we invest strategically now, or we’ll pay far more later in breakdowns, delays, and diminished service.”

Alderman Burgelis, who serves as Vice Chair of both the Public Safety & Health Committee and the Finance & Personnel Committee, said he will push for additional funding to ensure a sustainable and realistic apparatus replacement plan is included in the 2026 city budget.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.