Finnish fire trucks older than museum pieces pose operational risk

Some of Finland’s fire and rescue vehicles are so old they qualify as museum pieces, with parts of the fleet lacking even seatbelts, Yle reports.

An investigation by the public broadcaster found that in several well-being regions—including Central Finland, South Savo, Pirkanmaa, North Ostrobothnia, and Lapland—heavy rescue equipment such as fire engines and tankers are approaching or exceeding 30 years in age. In Central Finland, the average age of heavy vehicles is 19.2 years, while in Lapland it has been reduced to just over 14 years after recent replacements.

Tommi Luhtaniemi, senior inspector at the Ministry of the Interior’s rescue department, said the national average age of heavy rescue vehicles is 16–17 years—too old for reliable service. He warned that aging fleets increase maintenance needs and the risk of operational failures, and that some vehicles lack modern safety features like seatbelts, posing a workplace hazard.

Replacing a single fire engine costs at least €500,000, a significant expense for well-being regions already struggling with tight budgets. Ville Mensala, rescue director for Central Finland, said the region replaces about five heavy units annually but noted that older vehicles—some over 40 years in service—can be a “cultural shock” for new recruits due to outdated handling and lack of modern sensors or automatic transmissions.

In South Savo, 27 of the region’s 55 fire and tanker trucks are older than the 19-year average, with some over 30 years old. Pelastuspäällikkö Tuomo Halmeslahti cited risks such as freezing or cracking of exposed water pumps in winter if maintenance is neglected. To maintain the current age structure, the region would need to purchase at least one new fire engine, one tanker, and one to three crew vehicles each year.

Pirkanmaa, with 140 rescue units averaging 14 years old—36 of them over 20 years and six over 30—plans to allocate €2.67 million of its €3.6 million budget this year to new vehicles. North Ostrobothnia, where the average age is 15 years, is also prioritizing heavy vehicle replacements.