City leadership reaffirmed today that Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD) operations remain active across the city as facility upgrades, apparatus improvements, and strategic deployment planning continue to strengthen emergency response coverage.
“Atlanta’s firefighters deserve modern facilities, reliable equipment, and the support needed to protect residents in every neighborhood,” said Mayor Andre Dickens. “We are continuing to make the long-term investments required to keep Atlanta safe today and into the future.”
Ensuring reliable fire protection across every neighborhood remains a core priority of the Dickens Administration’s One Safe City strategy. AFRD operates under a system-based response model that dispatches the closest available engines, ladder trucks, and specialized units to incidents citywide, ensuring continuous coverage even when individual apparatus rotate offline for maintenance, repairs, or facility modernization.
Recent discussions and social media posts by Captain Nate Bailey, who has served with Atlanta Fire Rescue, regarding apparatus availability do not reflect how AFRD operates or the level of service currently being provided. Some recent public statements about apparatus availability have included misinformation and fear-mongering that do not reflect how AFRD’s system-wide deployment model operates or the level of service currently being delivered across Atlanta. This discussion is occurring during a period in which the International Association of Fire Fighters has directed Local 134 to redo its recent leadership election, meaning Captain Bailey’s current union leadership status remains under review. Regardless of these developments, the Administration remains committed to ensuring residents and visitors are protected and would not place the safety of Atlanta communities at risk.
Currently:
- Several stations—including Stations 5, 25, 26, and 30—are temporarily closed due to long-planned renovations and full rebuilds designed to improve firefighter safety and modernize aging facilities.
- Apparatus from those stations have been strategically reassigned to maintain response coverage across affected areas.
- Two stations currently do not have an engine assigned due to temporary repairs; coverage in those areas is being maintained by advanced life support Quick Intervention Car (QIC) units.
- Truck 26 remains fully operational and is currently deployed from Station 1 while Station 26 undergoes reconstruction.
- Additional apparatus may rotate temporarily out of service for routine maintenance, which is a normal part of managing a fleet of this size.
While Atlanta Fire Rescue oversees operations and day-to-day readiness at fire stations across the city, the Office of Fleet Services manages the procurement and repair timelines for apparatus once vehicles enter the maintenance cycle. Preventive maintenance, accident-related repairs, and general mechanical service are coordinated through Fleet Services as part of maintaining the City’s public safety fleet.
Over the past several years, the City of Atlanta has provided an unprecedented level of support to Atlanta Fire Rescue personnel and infrastructure. This includes restoring a firefighter pension that had been eliminated more than a decade ago, providing substantial pay increases, replacing outdated training facilities with the modern Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, adding new fire trucks, replacing breathing apparatus to improve firefighter safety, renovating or rebuilding multiple fire stations across the city, and continuing to invest in strengthening the department’s personnel, facilities, and fleet.
Recent Administration investments supporting Atlanta Fire Rescue personnel, training, facilities, and equipment include:
|
Investment Area |
Action Taken |
| Firefighter Compensation | FY23 AFRD pay adjustments ranging from 7–15% |
| Cost-of-Living Adjustments | Additional 1.5% COLA the following year and 3.5% COLA in 2024 |
| Pay Equity Corrections | Resolved 400+ long-standing AFRD pay discrepancies |
| Promotions | Reinstated promotional process resulting in 150+ promotions |
| Training Infrastructure | Opened new Public Safety Training Center |
| Apparatus & Equipment | Continued investment in AFRD apparatus and equipment |
| Fire Stations | Constructed and renovated multiple fire stations citywide |
“These investments are about strengthening service, not reducing it. The City does not rely on static station coverage alone,” said Chief Operating Officer LaChandra Burks. “Atlanta Fire Rescue operates using a coordinated, system-wide deployment model that ensures the closest available resources respond wherever they are needed. Coverage across the city remains in place as facilities are modernized and apparatus rotate through maintenance.”
Two weeks ago, the City secured five new fire engines as part of its planned fleet modernization efforts. Those vehicles have already been delivered to the regional dealership and are currently undergoing outfitting and inspection prior to entering service. As new apparatus enter service, existing units returning from maintenance can remain available as reserve equipment—strengthening backup capacity and improving reliability across the fleet over time.
City leadership also recognizes that this period coincides with leadership elections within one of Atlanta’s local firefighter unions. As public discussion continues, the City remains focused on facts, transparency, and ensuring residents understand the strength of the services currently being delivered across Atlanta.
