South Portland will have to replace new fire truck that hit power line during training [Bangor Daily News, Maine] • Charter Capital

Jan. 31—South Portland’s new $1.1-million fire truck that accidentally hit a power line while being used for training last fall has been declared “no longer reliable in the field” and will need to be replaced, city officials said Thursday.

The city’s insurance company will cover all but about $8,000 of the cost of the replacement truck, according to a news release from City Manager Scott Morelli. The city has a $1,000 deductible, and manufacturing costs have increased by approximately $6,600 since the purchase of the previous truck, he said.

On Oct. 30, firefighters testing the new truck hit a wire on Skillin Street, causing the vehicle’s right front tire to catch fire and forcing Central Maine Power Co. to temporarily cut off electricity to the area.

After evaluating the vehicle, truck maker Pierce Manufacturing determined it was a total loss, with a top executive telling the city that although the physical damage could likely be repaired, it was difficult to determine whether there might be “unknown damage to internal electrical components.”

David Archer, vice president of engineering for Pierce, told the city such hidden damages could become “a catastrophic issue if the apparatus was fighting a fire at the time the issue manifested,” according to Morelli.

Morelli and Fire Chief James Wilson lauded the manufacturer and insurance company for working with the city to evaluate the damaged truck and, ultimately, get it replaced as quickly and inexpensively as possible. The new truck will likely arrive by fall. A 1996 ladder truck that was brought back into service after the October accident will continue to stay in service until the new truck arrives, Morelli said.

The city also implemented new vehicle safety protocols in response to the incident, including the addition of a “designated spotter” to the truck crew to help the operator avoid any hard-to-see obstacles.

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