DETROIT (WXYZ) — The Detroit Fire Department unveiled a new fleet of fire engines, ambulances, and emergency vehicles Tuesday, representing a major investment in public safety that officials say will help maintain some of the fastest response times in the country.
Watch Ruta Ulcinaite’s video report:
Detroit invests $10.7 million in new fire department fleet to boost public safety
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The $10.7 million investment, approved by City Council several years ago, includes 10 new fire engines, 13 new ambulances, and six EMS and fire command vehicles. The new fleet was displayed at Eastern Market before being deployed to stations across the city.
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“If you look at any of the major cities, they’re driving around in 15, 20-year-old pieces of apparatus. We’re fortunate enough not to have that old of an apparatus on the street,” DFD Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms said.
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The investment marks a significant change from years past, when the department struggled with aging equipment. Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Clapp, who has served with the department for more than three decades, recalls the challenges of working with deteriorating vehicles.
“When I came on, we had a lot of rigs that were rusted through, like the commissioner said, they had holes in the water tank, a lot of the compartments had holes, and the doors were shut together with bungee cords,” Clapp said.
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The department’s budget has increased over the years, allowing for better staffing and equipment. Officials say the new fleet will help maintain and potentially improve response times.
“It improves public safety by providing reliable transportation and equipment on the scene, so whenever someone calls for service, you know that rig, when it rolls out of quarters, it’s going to start, it’s going to perform as intended,” Clapp said.
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The reliable equipment is particularly important for businesses in areas like Eastern Market, where older architecture can present unique challenges.
Frank Germack, CEO of Germack Pistachio Company, understands the importance of quick response times after his business was affected by incidents in the area, including having to close for a week and a half due to falling bricks in 2023. His business is also just a few doors down from the fire that happened at Supino Pizzeria in 2023.
“These are old buildings, and if they can stop a fire from spreading, if they can stop a fire from consuming some of these historic buildings, especially the shed buildings, which are even older than our building here, then a piece of history goes up in smoke literally,” Germack said.
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The new fleet is expected to be in service all across the city within the next few weeks.
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Troy Melton allowed one hit in six innings and the Detroit Tigers’ offense came alive late in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
Dillon Dingler had two hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs as Detroit won its second straight game after losing four of five.
Melton (4-0) gave up a homer to Sam Antonacci on his second pitch of the game but allowed only four more baserunners — on three walks and a hit batter. He struck out five while allowing two or fewer runs for the fourth time in five starts this season.
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Two Tigers relievers finished, with Kenley Jansen pitching the ninth for his ninth save.
Sean Newcomb started Chicago’s bullpen game with three perfect innings, but Tyler Davis walked the bases loaded with two out in the fourth. Joe Rock came out of the White Sox bullpen and struck out pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones to loud boos from the Comerica Park crowd.
With a runner on first and two out in the fifth, Kevin McGonigle got Detroit’s first hit of the game — the first hit for either team since Antonacci’s leadoff homer.
Dillon Dingler followed with an RBI single off Rock (0-1) to tie the game.
Detroit took the lead in the sixth when Spencer Torkelson doubled and scored on James Outman’s single. Jake Rogers made it 3-1 later in the inning with an RBI single.
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Chicago didn’t get its second hit until Braden Montgomery doubled off Tyler Holton with one out in the seventh.
Dingler hit his 17th homer in the seventh, giving Detroit a 4-1 lead.
Up next
The teams finish the series Sunday in what was originally scheduled to be Justin Verlander’s first start as a Tigers player in Detroit since 2017. His hamstring strain means RHP Keider Montero (3-5, 3.67) will come back from the bullpen to face RHP Davis Martin (9-3, 3.31).
Today is Saturday, June 20, the 171st day of 2026. There are 194 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On June 20, 1943, race-related rioting erupted in Detroit; federal troops were sent in by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to quell the violence that resulted in more than 30 deaths.
Also on this date:
In 1782, the Continental Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States, featuring the emblem of the bald eagle.
In 1837, Queen Victoria acceded to the British throne following the death of her uncle, King William IV.
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In 1893, a jury in New Bedford, Massachusetts, found Lizzie Borden not guilty of the ax murders of her father and stepmother.
In 1947, gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel was shot dead at the Beverly Hills, California, home of his girlfriend, Virginia Hill, likely at the order of mob associates.
In 1967, boxer Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted and was sentenced to five years in prison. (Ali’s conviction would ultimately be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court).
In 1972, three days after the arrest of the Watergate burglars, President Richard Nixon met at the White House with his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman; the secretly made tape recording of this meeting ended up with a notorious 18 1/2-minute gap.
In 2002, in Atkins v. Virginia, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that executing people with intellectual disabilities qualified as cruel and unusual punishment and was therefore in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
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In 2025, a powerful tornado tore across southeastern North Dakota with winds topping 200 mph (322 kph) and an EF5 category, the strongest classification for a tornado and the first of that strength confirmed on U.S. soil in a dozen years. The tornado killed three people and heavily damaged a regional airport.
Voting on finalists open from June 22 through July 20
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What is the barbershop in Metro Detroit? We’ve got our finalists for this year’s Vote 4 The Best category for best barbershop.
Here are this year’s finalists:
Andino’s Barbershop in St. Clair Shores
Bennies Barbershop in Trenton
Chivalry Barber Co. in Royal Oak
The Garage Cuts and Coffee in Plymouth
Walter T’s Grooming Company in Waterford Township
We received more than 16,700 nominations across our 80 Vote 4 The Best categories this year. Each category was then narrowed down to five finalists.
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Click here to view the full list of finalists.
Now that nominations are over, voting on finalists can begin. Voting is open from June 22 through July 20, and you can vote for each category once per day during that time.
Click here to vote for finalists in all 80 categories.
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About the Authors
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Derick Hutchinson
Derick is the Digital Executive Producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.
