Atlanta Council Approves Up to $19M for Fire Department Fleet Upgrade

The Atlanta City Council approved legislation to authorize executing a master lease agreement with JP Morgan Chase Bank to provide for the city’s acquisition of replacement equipment and vehicles for the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department in an amount not to exceed $19 million. 

Also approved was a resolution requesting Invest Atlanta authorize Tax Allocation District funding at $8.7 million for Atlanta Fire Rescue Department’s emergency fleet replacement purchases to include fire engines, battalion chief vehicles, and heavy apparatus.

"With the passage of these two pieces of legislation, the City Council and Mayor Dickens have made a historic investment of over $18 million into our Atlanta Fire Rescue Department," stated District 9 Council member and Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee Chair Dustin Hillis after the city council approved the legislation he drafted. 

Planning Ahead for Atlanta's Fire Fleet

According to Hillis' statement, the city is also looking to approve another $5 million from Invest Atlanta to purchase additional fire apparatus for three fire stations within two of the Tax Allocation Districts.

The $18 million in funding approved will allow the city of Atlanta to purchase the following: 

• Eight fire engines.
• One ladder truck.
• One utility truck.
• Two swift water rescue jet boats.
• New self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs).
• New heart monitors/defibrillators (AEDs).

"I am thankful for the support of every one of my 14 colleagues who signed onto the legislation, as well as Mayor Dickens and his executive leadership team, who have worked diligently with me and the Finance Committee on crafting this much-needed investment for the men and women of Atlanta Fire Rescue and the safety of our city's citizens and visitors," Hillis stated.