The crash happened shortly after 8 a.m. at the intersection of 5th and Shipley streets. The ambulance was responding to a call with emergency equipment activated when the crash happened, police say. There was no immediate word on the severity of the car driver's injuries.

According to their Facebook page, they say the city closed the Fire Department as of 8 a.m. on Monday.  

They say they tried to get on the City Council agenda for this Thursday, but were denied.

The disagreement comes from the city initiating a contract explaining who is responsible for the equipment the crew use. While the department is temporarily back open, they're hoping to find a fast solution.

In voting against the funding, Mayor Butler contended the city could save $4 million if the city eliminated the “minimum manning” clause that requires 15 firefighters are on duty at all times and not accept the grant. Almost all of the city’s $800,000 in overtime expenses also would be gone, he said.  

The minimum manning stance is at the crux of a four-year contract dispute with the Watertown Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 191. As a result, the city will save money in personnel costs because many of those firefighters earn top-tier annual salary wages of $55,635 and they will be replaced by new people earning a base salary of $44,799.

This state-of-the art piece of equipment is a Marion Engine and cost $529,000. It was ordered in 2017. Fabrication of the engine to the town’s specifications took until late-September of this year. It is the department’s second Marion Engine, allowing for the standardization of equipment, said a spokesman.

Public Safety Director Steve Grinnewald said council members approved buying a new fire truck to replace one that is 29 years old. The total price of the truck from the Rosenbauer Co. is $352,797 which includes more than $12,000 worth of extra equipment.  

Grinnewald said the city has a replacement schedule for major items such as fire trucks in order to set aside funds over a number of years. The useful life of a fire truck is usually 25 years and this truck lasted 29 years.