Crossville Fire Chief Chris South updated the City Council last night during a work session on the recent accident involving a relatively new ladder truck at fire station #2.

Fire Chief Chris South said the incident occurred on February 11th during a routine check by a senior firefighter.

According to Chief South, the firefighter extended the ladder up and it inadvertently made contact with overhead high voltage lines.

South said some 14,000 volts ran through the vehicle. South said the city should anticipate a full total loss after the vehicle’s manufacturer estimated several hundred thousand dollars of damage.

South said the department will need to transport the ladder truck to the Pierce Refurbish Center in Wisconsin. South said the trip would cost about $9,000 with about half covered by insurance. Chief South said there would need to be a budget amendment to cover the rest.

“Once we get it to the Pierce Center, they are going to begin their extensive damage assessment and come up with some numbers as to whether or not where it will be economical to repair the truck which was purchased by the department in 2018.

The fireman operating the ladder was actually on the turntable of the ladder truck when the ladder contacted the electrical lines but did not suffer any injuries.  The City Council will take the matter up at the upcoming Council meeting.