Boston Fire Department highlights aging firehouses, new boats and procurement delays in FY27 briefing

In testimony to the City Council’s Ways and Means Committee, Boston Fire Department leaders outlined capital priorities and operational investments they say are necessary to maintain emergency readiness and firefighter safety.

Why this matters: The department said many firehouses are old and have deferred maintenance; officials argued that replacing outdated HVAC systems, separating living quarters from apparatus bays and performing industrial cleaning are essential to lower occupational exposure risks. Separately, the department described $9.2 million in capital investment to modernize its marine fleet for summer operations.

Details from the hearing: Deputy of Operations Patrick Ellis and Commissioner Marshall described projects in active planning or design — Engine 8 (North End) needs a kitchen relocation and roof replacement; Engine 21 faces retaining‑wall stabilization; Engine 9 in East Boston needs apron replacement — and said many projects are delayed at the city/public‑facilities level because of procurement and project‑management bottlenecks. “Most of that is a direct result of some capital projects that were delayed on the city side,” officials said.

Marine vessel investment: Officials said the city bought three new vessels totaling about $9.2 million; a custom 69‑foot boat was en route from upstate New York and will undergo testing before summer deployment to provide improved marine firefighting and rescue capabilities.

Next steps and funding risk: Councilors asked why prior capital allocations were underspent; department leaders pledged to continue advocating for project managers and to seek flexibility on smaller projects so the department can accelerate critical repairs. Several councilors asked for specific cost estimates to replace HVAC and other systems in houses identified as high‑priority.