"GET OFF THE TRUCK"
Fire Fighters who had been called in to assist in the Olive Street house fire jumped on Engine 5 and were on their way. Fire Fighter Bill Sipkovsky was at the wheel driving to the fire as the Engine just came apart.Elyria Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Ron Brlas said that Capt. Carl Keith, also on the truck, heard some unusual noises as he applied the brakes at the intersection. “We were in the process of rotating crews when the accident with Engine 5 occurred. They were approaching East Bridge St. when Sipkovsky applied the brakes. As soon as he touched the brakes he said he could hear an unusual noise coming from the rear of the truck and the handling was bad.”
Chief Brlas said that the truck started to tip and Captain Keith immediately ordered the other two Fire Fighters off the truck. Chief Brlas said that the truck would have gone all the way over on its side had it not been for the right side stabilizer jack. Fire Fighter Chuck Smalley was also on board with Sipkovsky and Captain Keith at the time of the accident.
The fire they were on their way to was at 145 Olive Street. The property had recently been purchased by Wolfenden Industries and the family that was living there had moved out one week ago, leaving the utilities still in operation.
Chief Brlas said the structure, located in the district where the station is closed, was heavily involved when crews arrived on scene. Fire Fighters from North Ridgeville and Carlisle Township were brought to the scene to assist in battling the blaze. Lorain and Avon Fire Departments filled in at Station 1. It took approximately two hours to completely extinguish the blaze.
posted by TMC NEWS at 4:50 PM
5 Comments:
Captain Keith was not driving the truck. He was the Officer in charge, and riding in the Officer's seat.
Can I please be the first one on this news article to say that it's the mayor's fault. Interesting..... I wonder, did the assistant chief answer a question to where the fire was located, or did he volunteer that information to make a subtle political statement.
Rough days for EFD. I wonder how proud and motivated they are right now.
um...how is a mechanical failure, possibly from faulty workmanship, over time faulty parts the truck was made from, be anybodys fault but the manufacture? I cant tell, are you for or against EFD?
"Rough days for EFD. I wonder how proud and motivated they are right now."
VERY PROUD and VERY MOTIVATED!!!!
The engine is 15 years old, and proper maintenance isn't in the budget. Plus the stress of fifteen years could have been reached. Vehicles all fail eventually.
I'm thinking of a 15 year old car and I imagine based on seeing a fire truck fly by a car hardly compares. A car isn't carrying 500 gallons of water. That's 3,500 lbs just in water alone.
We need new fire trucks. Add that to the growing list of needs not being met. They can only work with so little, when their lives are in danger we need to do something.
Our mayor has consistently said fire safety isn't important. We citizens need to tell him how we feel and show up at City Council meetings and voice our concern. If he hears it enough maybe he will finally listen.
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