“Life and death depend on it. You can't have them breaking down,” said former Hillsborough County Commissioner Ed Turanchik.  

He’s one of four candidates for Tampa mayor now demanding upgrades after the I-Team found the city’s ambulance fleet is the oldest in the region.

“There's no question that we need to upgrade our fleet,” said Tampa City Council member Harry Cohen.

“The process itself if not working. This story indicates that,” said Councilman Mike Suarez.

Three firefighters were transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation, but we're told they're okay. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. There is heavy damage to many of Blissfield's rigs. So much so, they're all out of service until further notice.

On Friday, the South Portland Fire Department released a report into the Oct. 30 fire started after the truck's 107-foot aerial ladder hit an overhead power line, sending an electrical current that destroyed the truck's wiring systems and sparked a fire.

The truck was placed in service two days before. New guidelines have been developed to prevent a recurrence.

The driver of the SUV suffered a minor injury and refused medical transport.

The truck’s lights and sirens were activated. No citations were issued.The fire in Scott County was near the intersection of 235th Street and 277 Avenue, in Rural Scott County, Iowa, and attracted several emergency response vehicles.

The truck is “completely furnished with all new equipment, including a battery operated hydraulic cutter and spreader, better known as the ‘jaws-of-life,’ and complement of ground ladders totaling 167’,” according to a press release.  

The new fire vehicle also sets a record in New Hanover County as the tallest fire apparatus with a ladder designed to withstand 35 miles per hour sustained winds while fully extended at 107 feet vertically or 100 feet horizontally.

“The soon-to-be christened Truck 7 offers our firefighters increased hearing protection with a fully sealed passenger cab, in addition to front and side compartment airbags that will give our firefighters more protection in the event of a side roll over or frontal impact collision,” the press release reads. “The Hi-Viz LED light and siren package provides a greater visibility to public of our first responders as they are responding to emergencies.”

A budget of about $1.3 million was allotted for the purchase in July 2017.