08/21/2026
🚨ENGINE CRISIS🚨
Your Clarkston firefighters want to be as transparent with our community as possible. Right now, the reliability of our fire apparatus is putting both public and firefighter safety at risk.
Since the beginning of July, our reserve engine, Engine 82, has been out of service and is expected to remain out of service for at least another month.
At the same time, our frontline engine, Engine 81, is experiencing a failing pump control system that can cause the pump to lose pressure or operate intermittently.
What does this mean for our community?
If Engine 81’s pump fails during a structure fire, firefighters may not have a reliable water supply to safely make an interior attack. That directly impacts our ability to protect lives and property and puts firefighters at greater risk.
On July 4, while operating at a brush fire, Engine 82 suffered a cylinder sleeve failure that allowed coolant into the motor. The damage requires the engine to be replaced. Engine 82 is 25 years old and has reached an age where NFPA guidance recommends retirement. E82 has also failed its annual pump test for the last several years.
Just one day earlier, on July 3, Engine 81 responded as the first-arriving engine to a fire. As firefighters deployed hose lines, the pump lost pressure, resulting in no water to the attack line. Further diagnostics identified the pump control board as the likely problem, and it now needs to be replaced.
This is a serious concern.
One of our most basic responsibilities is providing reliable fire suppression to the City of Clarkston. With our 25-year-old reserve engine out of service and our 12-year-old frontline engine experiencing pump problems and approaching the end of its frontline service life, we cannot guarantee our apparatus will operate to its full capability when our community needs it most.
This situation did not happen without warning.
Two years ago, Clarkston firefighters formed an apparatus committee to begin the process of replacing our aging engine. The committee researched manufacturers and worked to develop specifications for an affordable and efficient engine that would meet Clarkston’s needs.
A bid was presented to the Public Safety Committee, consisting of the Fire Chief, Mayor, and three City Council members.
That bid was denied.
Our concerns regarding the condition and reliability of our fire apparatus have been brought to the attention of the Fire Chief, Mayor, and Public Safety Committee. To date, these concerns have received no response.
We believe Clarkston citizens should be asking:
âť“ As an essential service, what does reliable fire suppression mean for the City of Clarkston?
âť“ Why was a bid for a replacement fire engine denied while purchases of other city vehicles were approved?
âť“ Why does the Fire Department not have a dedicated apparatus replacement fund to ensure critical emergency vehicles are replaced before reaching this point?
Your Clarkston firefighters are here to serve the citizens and visitors of Clarkston. We will continue providing the best service possible with the resources available.
But we need reliable apparatus and equipment to do our jobs safely.
We are operating in crisis mode. These issues need to be addressed before an apparatus failure during an emergency results in serious injury, significant property loss, or loss of life.
Ask your city leaders why you don’t have dependable fire suppression apparatus ready when you need it.
Our community deserves reliable fire protection. Our firefighters deserve reliable equipment.
Washington State Council of Fire Fighters | Ricky Walsh - IAFF 7th District | City of Clarkston Fire Department
