Constantine Fire Department loses rescue truck due to fire in vehicle bay

Constantine Fire Department lost a rescue truck due to a fire in the department’s vehicle bay.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m. Friday, an on-duty firefighter was conducting monthly maintenance checks on the rescue truck, said fire chief Mike Haydon. After the maintenance check was complete, the apparatus was backed into the fire department and the vehicle was shut off. The firefighter then moved on to other duties in another area of the fire department.

The firefighter reported he then heard something in the apparatus bay and when he went to investigate, he encountered smoke and fire coming from the rescue truck. He quickly notified central dispatch and requested assistance from Fabius-Park and White Pigeon fire departments.

The firefighter was able to remove a fire engine from the fire department and began to attack the rescue truck fire. The fire was quickly put out with the help of other fire personnel that began to arrive.

The rescue truck is a total loss, but the other apparatus sustained minor smoke damage. The building sustained some smoke and heat damage inside the apparatus bay but no major damage was reported. The cause of the fire is not known but it appears to be an electrical or mechanical failure in the engine compartment.

Cleanup of the fire department, apparatus and our equipment has begun, Haydon said, “but we are still able to respond to incidents and calls for service with our remaining apparatus, equipment and assistance from our neighboring fire departments.

“We appreciate the outpouring of concern and assistance, both from our neighboring fire departments and our community,” he said.

Assisting were Fabius-Park and White Pigeon fire departments, Constantine Police Department and Broker’s Towing and Recovery.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Constantine's rescue truck total loss after vehicle fire