How to Get a Fire Truck in GTA 5: Complete Guide

Grand Theft Auto V gives players an insane amount of freedom when it comes to vehicles, letting you hop into everything from supercars and motorcycles to planes, tanks, and emergency vehicles. One of the most fun and underrated options is the fire truck, a massive vehicle that brings its own kind of chaos to the streets of Los Santos. The fire truck isn’t just big and flashy, it also comes with a working water cannon that can shove cars out of the way, knock people over, and extinguish fires around the city. In this guide, we’ll go over the easiest ways to find a fire truck, how to take one without messing things up, and whether or not you can store it permanently so it stays in your collection.

Where to Find Fire Trucks in GTA 5

In Grand Theft Auto V, the fire truck is modeled after the MTL Fire Truck, a huge emergency vehicle with the classic red-and-white look that stands out instantly. Once you know where they spawn, getting one is easy since fire trucks appear in fixed locations that reliably refresh over time. Most of them can be found parked at fire stations across Los Santos and Blaine County, making these spots the best places to check if you want one quickly. Paleto Bay Fire Station in the far north usually has a single fire truck parked outside, while the Davis Fire Station in South Los Santos can spawn up to two and is one of the easiest locations to access without trouble. The Rockford Hills Fire Station near Morningwood also spawns up to two fire trucks, and El Burro Heights Fire Station in the eastern part of the city can have up to two as well. Fort Zancudo technically offers the largest number, with as many as four fire trucks spawning there, but entering the military base instantly gives you a four-star wanted level, making it a risky option unless you’re already planning a full-on rampage. For most players, the Davis Fire Station is the most convenient and safest choice thanks to its central location and lack of heavy resistance. Outside of fire stations, fire trucks can also appear during random fire incidents around the city, so if you spot smoke, hear sirens, or see firefighters responding to a blaze, there’s often a fire truck nearby that you can grab while they’re busy dealing with the situation.

How to Steal a Fire Truck in GTA 5 Without Getting Busted

In Grand Theft Auto V, taking a fire truck almost always comes with attention from the police since it’s classified as an emergency vehicle. Grabbing one directly from a fire station will usually give you a two-star wanted level, so the goal is to get in and disappear before things escalate. Instead of driving straight into the station where firefighters are gathered, hang around the entrance and watch for a fire truck parked close to the road or slightly away from the main area. Once you see an opening, hop in quickly and drive off toward a low-traffic spot like a back alley, underground parking garage, or narrow side street. As soon as you’re out of sight, stop the truck completely and stay still, since the police will lose you much faster if you’re hidden and not moving. Avoid main roads and highways during this time, because helicopters can easily track a huge red fire truck from above. Another reliable option is calling 911 on your in-game phone and requesting a fire truck to your location. When it arrives, wait for the firefighters to step out, then jump in and drive away immediately. You’ll still trigger a wanted level, but starting with momentum makes it much easier to break line of sight and lose the cops before they can surround you.

GTA 5 Fire Truck Storage and Garage Options

Keeping a fire truck stored in Grand Theft Auto V is possible, but it comes with a few limitations that players should know upfront. Because fire trucks are oversized emergency vehicles, they won’t fit in smaller residential garages. Places like Franklin’s aunt’s house in Strawberry or Trevor’s trailer in Sandy Shores simply don’t have large enough entrances, so the game won’t let you park one there. If you want a reliable storage solution, your best bet is purchasing a larger garage property, such as the multi-vehicle garages in Downtown Los Santos or the Sandy Shores Airfield hangar, both of which can handle big vehicles like fire trucks, ambulances, and buses. It’s important to note that fire trucks never become true personal vehicles in Story Mode, meaning they won’t automatically respawn in your garage list like purchased or customized cars. If you take one out, you’ll need to manually return it to the same garage to keep it stored. On top of that, fire trucks can’t be customized at Los Santos Customs, as the game treats them as special-use emergency vehicles, so you’re locked into their default look and performance no matter what.

What Can Fire Trucks Do in GTA 5?

In Grand Theft Auto V, fire trucks are more than just oversized vehicles, they’re surprisingly fun tools for pure chaos. Their standout feature is the powerful water cannon mounted on the back, which you can control directly from the driver’s seat. Once activated, you can aim the stream to blast pedestrians off their feet, knock motorcycles into the air, and shove cars sideways like they weigh nothing. The force behind it makes it great for crowd control or just messing around in busy areas. Fire trucks are also built like tanks compared to normal cars, able to survive heavy crashes, sustained gunfire, and even explosions before showing serious damage. Their massive weight lets you plow through traffic, smash roadblocks, and dominate police chases where smaller vehicles simply bounce off the front end. You can also use the water cannon to put out fires on burning cars or buildings, which doesn’t reward you with money or missions but adds a fun roleplay element if you want to act like an actual firefighter. Oddly enough, the cannon still works underwater, which makes for some funny moments if you end up driving into the sea. While the fire truck isn’t fast by supercar standards, it can still reach roughly 80 mph, though acceleration is slow and turning is clumsy, meaning sharp corners usually end with clipped cars, poles, or buildings along the way.

Fire Truck Locations in GTA Online

In GTA Online, fire trucks appear in many of the same places as they do in Story Mode, mainly around fire stations across Los Santos and Blaine County. However, taking one still triggers a wanted level, and unlike Story Mode, Rockstar has placed much stricter limits on what you can do with emergency vehicles online. Fire trucks cannot be saved in personal garages at all, as emergency vehicle storage is completely disabled to avoid exploits and griefing in public sessions. While some players occasionally spot fire trucks during freemode activities, random events, or near certain missions, these spawns aren’t reliable and can’t be forced consistently. You also can’t buy a fire truck through Pegasus or any in-game website, as Rockstar never added it as a purchasable vehicle. The MTL Fire Truck does show up in a handful of contact missions or special objectives that involve emergency vehicles, but once the mission ends, the truck disappears and cannot be kept. Although modded fire trucks exist on PC through third-party tools, using mods in GTA Online is extremely risky, since Rockstar actively monitors modified game files and spawning restricted vehicles can lead to account warnings, suspensions, or permanent bans.

FAQs

Can you keep a fire truck permanently in GTA 5 Story Mode?

In Grand Theft Auto V Story Mode, fire trucks can be stored in large garages, but they never become true personal vehicles. If you take one out, you must manually park it back in the same garage or it may despawn.

Can fire trucks be stored in GTA Online garages?

No, fire trucks cannot be saved in personal garages in GTA Online. Rockstar disabled emergency vehicle storage online to prevent exploits and balance issues.

Do fire trucks always give a wanted level when stolen?

Yes, stealing a fire truck will trigger a wanted level in both Story Mode and GTA Online. The wanted level is usually low, but you’ll still need to lose the police before driving freely.

Can you customize a fire truck at Los Santos Customs?

No, fire trucks are treated as special emergency vehicles and cannot be modified at Los Santos Customs. Their appearance and performance are locked.

Is it safe to spawn fire trucks using mods in GTA Online?

No, using mods to spawn fire trucks in GTA Online is risky and can result in warnings, suspensions, or permanent bans. Rockstar actively detects modified game files and unauthorized vehicle spawns.

Conclusion

Getting a fire truck in Grand Theft Auto V is easier than most players expect once you know where to look and how to grab one without causing too much trouble. Whether you’re using it for pure chaos, roleplaying as a firefighter, or just having fun with the water cannon, the fire truck offers a unique experience you don’t get from normal vehicles. While there are limits on storage and customization, especially in GTA 5 Online, fire trucks are still one of the most entertaining emergency vehicles to mess around with in Story Mode. If you follow the right locations, stealing methods, and storage tips, you can enjoy everything this massive vehicle has to offer without unnecessary frustration.