ATLANTA — Atlanta Professional Firefighters are taking on a different kind of fight — pushing the city for more trucks and more staff on them.

The union’s president, Nate Bailey, said fire engines have been going out of service for maintenance issues for years, a problem that’s putting strain on crews and slowing response times.

"What we've struggled with lately is staffing those apparatus that remain in service," Bailey said.

That’s why he’s encouraged by legislation Councilmember Michael J. Bond introduced this week, calling for four firefighters to an engine and four firefighters to a ladder truck.

Bailey said the trucks usually have three, the legislation allows exceptions to keep units from going out of service due to staffing.

"The reason we're pushing it right now is becau

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