J. Lyons Fire Consultants

04/25/2026

A few pictures from FDIC 2026

04/16/2026

The report on the recent Washington DC Fire Department apparatus purchase, actually there decision to not purchase after a substantial investment in design costs, is interesting.

In most cases, manufacturers absorb the upfront engineering and proposal development costs as part of competing for the contract. It’s basically the cost of doing business.

They’ll invest pretty heavily in:

- Custom specs and preliminary engineering drawings

- Demonstrating compliance with standards (like NFPA)

- Showcasing past builds and performance

- Iterating with the department during the proposal phase

All of that is done with the expectation that they might win the order — whether it’s 1 unit or 30.

Where things start to diverge a bit is with very large or highly customized procurements, especially in big cities. In those cases, you might see:

- Paid third-party consultants helping the city write specs

- Pre-design or feasibility studies funded by the municipality

But to charge a customer significant fees just to put together a manufacturer’s proposal? That’s definitely outside the norm and raises a few questions, like:

- Was this framed as a full engineering/design contract rather than a bid?

- Was the spec so open-ended that the manufacturer essentially became a consultant?

- Or was there something unusual about the procurement structure (e.g., sole-source or negotiated deal)

If the city paid a substantial amount just to get a proposal, that suggests the process may have been structured very differently from a standard competitive bid.

https://youtu.be/xtRM65_KnpY

The D.C. Council voted against a $25 million contract for 18 new fire engines, but the District had already spent nearly $900,000 to design and engineer the ...

02/21/2026

A few photos from the Virginia Fire Chiefs Conference.

Some Interesting restored fire trucks, a fire bike and more. 😁

Virginia Fire Chiefs A.

02/13/2026

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY 🚒❤️🚒

02/12/2026

Here’s an interesting truck from Sweedsburg, PA — a 2010 Sutphen Monarch Cab (Sq**rt 56).

The body was built by Precision Fire Apparatus and features a 50’ Snozzle articulating boom, giving crews excellent reach and versatility on the fireground.

Power comes from a Cummins L9 420 HP engine paired with an Allison EVS 3000 transmission and a Hale Q-Max 2,000 GPM pump. The truck carries 500 gallons of water.

It’s outfitted with:
• (4) pre-connected attack lines
• (2) 200’ 1¾” crosslays
• (1) 200’ 2½” crosslay
• (1) 400’ 1¾” rear attack line
• 150’ of 1” booster line

Hose bed capacity includes:
• 2,000’ of 4” Large Diameter Hose (LDH)
• 600’ of 2½” hose with gated wye alley lay

A well-equipped and versatile piece serving the community. 🚒

Photo Credit: Sweedsburghfire.com

10/22/2025

🚒 Rising Cost of Fire Apparatus – Worth a Read 🚒

For those of you who don’t get Fire Engineering, I wanted to share an article they recently published that gives some insight into the increasing cost of fire apparatus.

It offers a small snapshot of a few contributing factors — but as many of us know, there are certainly more influences behind these rising costs. Still, it's a helpful overview and a good place to start the conversation.

https://www.fireengineering.com/fire-apparatus/whats-driving-the-cost-of-fire-apparatus/

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments 👇

Fire departments and manufacturers must continue to work hand in hand to balance functionality, affordability and deliverability.

09/15/2025

🚨 Fire Apparatus Manufacturing: Challenges in Lead Times & Rising Costs 🚨

Last week, a United States Senate subcommittee held hearings to address the growing concerns over long lead times and rising prices in the fire apparatus manufacturing sector. Representatives from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and two of the largest fire apparatus manufacturers were present to discuss these critical issues impacting fire departments across the country.

The shortage of key components, supply chain disruptions, and rising material costs have all played a significant role in extending delivery timelines and driving up prices for essential firefighting equipment. With firefighter safety and community response on the line, these discussions are more crucial than ever.

As this conversation evolves, it's important to continue supporting solutions that ensure fire departments can access reliable, high-quality apparatus in a timely manner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1IXzGIJaV0

During a Senate Homeland Security hearing on Wednesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) asked Mike Virnig, President of REV Group's Specialty Vehicles Group, an...

07/30/2025

This article offers an insightful perspective on the current state of the fire apparatus manufacturing industry.

Fire truck manufacturers across the industry are all facing the same challenges with high costs and lead times.

06/18/2025

Augusta, ME
2006 American LaFrance Liberty Engine

Cab: ALF Liberty
Engine: Cummins L-9 @ 450 HP
Trans: Allision EVS 3000
Fire Pump: ALF 1500 GPM
Body: Extruded Aluminum
Water: 1000 Gallons

Photo Credit: Augusta FD Website.

06/17/2025

Southwick, MA
2007 American LaFrance Engine/Tanker

Cab: ALF Liberty
Engine: Cummins ISL 450 HP
Trans: Allision EVS 3000
Body: Extruded Aluminum
Pump: ALF 1500 GPM
Water Tank: 2000 Gallons

Photo Credit: Southwick FD website.