Bryan fire department officially places two new fire engines into service

This podcast is a visit with Chris Lamb of the Bryan fire department and WTAW's Bill Oliver.The Bryan fire department officially adds two new fire engines to the department.BFD's Chris Lamb said following a ceremonial push-in event that the custom built engines provide more protection for firefighters.Lamb also said the engines were built ahead of a nationwide delay that not only extends the time to acquire the engines but has increased the cost.One of the new engines is at station two north of Villa Maria and west of Texas and the other is at station three on Briarcrest across the street from the Brazos Center.The engines that are being replaced will now be used as reserve units.The Bryan city council approved the purchase in July 2024 at a cost of $1.5 million dollars each.Click HERE to read and download background information about the purchase at the July 9, 2024 city council meeting.Click HERE to read and download the proposal that was approved at the July 9, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.News release from the Bryan fire department:While fire departments across the country are facing years-long delays for critical equipment, the Bryan Fire Department is moving forward—placing two new front-line fire engines into service next week.The deployment is a direct result of planning and strategic investment, positioning Bryan ahead of a national shortage impacting emergency response agencies nationwide.Across the U.S., fire departments are experiencing delivery delays that have stretched from 12–18 months to as long as three to five years, along with significant cost increases. The issue has drawn national attention, including an investigation by the Texas Attorney General into potential anticompetitive practices among fire truck manufacturers tied to pricing and supply concerns. Additional lawsuits nationwide allege restricted supply has further strained public safety resources.Bryan has avoided these extraordinary delays by acting early—through close coordination with city leadership and clear communication on long-term operational needs. The city has:● Secured approval and build slots ahead of national backlogs● Maintained sufficient reserve fire engines, reducing gaps in coverage, with the addition of the two new engines enhancing reserve engine availability● Strengthened regional support and redundancy through partnerships“While departments across the country are facing delays and uncertainty, Bryan has built a system that better ensures we are ready when our community needs us,” said Fire Chief Richard Giusti. “This preparedness is about reliability, readiness, and protecting the people we serve.”The two new Spartan Metro Star engines are designed for both fire suppression and advanced medical response, featuring:● Seating for up to five firefighters (standard: four)● 500-gallon water tank and 2000 GPM pump