Why are fire department software costs increasing?

Private equity firms are acquiring fire department software companies, leading to significant price hikes and consolidation in the market.

How does private equity affect volunteer fire departments?

Volunteer fire departments, operating on tight budgets, are particularly strained by rising software costs and fewer affordable options.

What is ESO Solutions' role in fire department software?

ESO Solutions is a major software provider backed by private equity, acquiring several platforms and raising prices for fire departments.

Home / Business and Economy / Volunteer Firefighters Face Software Crisis

Volunteer Firefighters Face Software Crisis

14 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Rural fire departments face soaring software costs.
Private equity firms are acquiring vital public safety software.
Volunteer departments struggle with shrinking options and rising prices.

Volunteer Firefighters Face Software Crisis

Rural fire departments are grappling with a significant increase in software costs, driven by private equity investment in the public safety sector. Companies like ESO Solutions, backed by major investment firms, have acquired established software platforms, subsequently hiking prices from hundreds to thousands of dollars annually.

This trend disproportionately affects volunteer fire departments, which constitute the vast majority of fire agencies in the country and operate on limited budgets. They are finding their options dwindling as a few dominant companies control the market for essential services like incident tracking and station management.

The consolidation of software providers is raising concerns about affordability and access to crucial technology for these vital community services. While some argue these investments are necessary for innovation and sustainability, many fire chiefs report feeling squeezed by escalating prices.