April 4, 2007

Ladder 53 temporarily out of service

       Ladder 53, the department's 102' aerial platform, experienced a catastrophic failure of its power-take-off driveline yesterday while returning from a training exercise.  The power-take-off driveline works in conjunction with the truck's transmission in order to allow the motor to power a variety of equipment on the truck.  For an unknown reason the driveline failed causing it to blow apart and damaging the main transmission.  The truck was pulled off into a parking lot and help was called.  "It sounded like something exploded under the truck", said Lieutenant Greg Hurrle who was the officer of the crew.  "I thought the whole engine was going to fly into pieces", he added.  The truck was towed by Hix Wrecker Service to the transmission shop where it might be up to a week before repairs can be completed.  In the meantime, the Greenwood Fire Department will be automatically sending their Aerial on all calls where the White River truck would have been responding.  Additionally, the Ladder 53 crew will be operating out of the department's back-up engine until their truck is returned to duty.

     
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