In the past, Oklahoma City has bought fire equipment with either a bond issue or a special sales tax.

In 1989, a special sales tax was created specifically for the Fire and Police Departments to hire additional personnel, build fire stations, and purchase firefighting equipment.  This influx of new revenue enabled both departments to purchase much-needed tools, equipment, and apparatus.

Reliable equipment is crucial to meeting response time goals and citizen expectations.

But eleven years later, the vehicles and apparatus were reaching the end of their useful life and needed to be replaced.

With funding through the Police and Fire Equipment dedicated temporary sales tax, the City can continue an excellent level of service through regular and systematic replacement of fire apparatus and support vehicles. 

Timely replacement of equipment will decrease maintenance costs and vehicle downtime.  Reliable equipment is a crucial component to help meet response time goals and citizen expectations.

As of May, 2002, the capital sales tax has funded 62 pieces of equipment and apparatus for the Fire Department.

To date, 54 vehicles have been delivered: 
4 pumpers,
3 wild land interface vehicles,
2 district chief command vehicles,
1 mobile command post,
12 sedans,
12 blazers,
2 pickups,
2 emergency response utility vehicles,
1 wrecker,
1 fuel truck,
1 forklift,
6 vans,
and 1 5-passenger van. 

Six brush pumper cab and chassis have been delivered; four completed brush pumpers have been constructed in-house and are in service, with two under construction.

Eight vehicles have been ordered and are pending delivery:  2 pumpers, 3 brush pumper cab and chassis, 2 district chief command vehicles, and 1 heavy-duty pickup.