VIDEO: With extreme heat gripping Phoenix this month, the Phoenix Fire Department is getting plenty of emergency calls. But fire trucks and ambulances can only respond if they’re operational, making the department’s mechanics some of the most crucial first responders most people never hear about. Every hour that a vehicle is off the streets means one less tool the department has to help save lives. Inside the department’s repair shop, every second counts as heavy equipment mechanics from the Public Works Department work to keep the fleet running.
“We are super busyโฆ With the heat comes the problems,” said Bruce Jefferson, a heavy equipment mechanic. The Phoenix Fire Department operates more than 700 vehicles, creating significant maintenance demands. Fire engines that weigh 80,000 pounds are regularly suspended in the air for repairs in the department’s garage. Captain Kent Arnold and engineer Dave Bieber manage a giant whiteboard that tracks the department’s operations and vehicle status. Bieber says the mechanics handle anywhere from 60 to 100 different mechanical issues daily.
