Ed Lewis
The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
(TNS)

Aug. 31—Wilkes-Barre City Council in March 1908, passed an ordinance to purchase a new fire fighting apparatus, a hook and ladder truck, at a cost of $5,500 from the Seagrave Aerial Fire Truck Co. in Ohio.

Months later, word was received that the aerial ladder truck was being shown at the National Firemen’s Convention held in Columbus, Ohio.

City Fire Chief Joe Schuler traveled to the firemen’s convention on Aug. 24, 1908, and immediately became impressed with the new firefighting machine. The words, “W-B Fire Department” were painted on both doors and down the sides of the truck.

“After weeks of anxious waiting, members of the fire committee of councils announced last evening that the new aerial truck had arrived and that it was upon a car in the yards of the Lehigh Valley Railroad,” the Wilkes-Barre Record newspaper reported Aug. 31, 1908.

“When exhibited in Columbus last week, during the convention of fire chiefs, it was declared by all who saw it to be the best equipped aerial truck ever placed on the market for the price. It takes about 10 seconds to raise the ladder to its designated height and is a truck which is easy for the firemen to handle,” the Record reported.

After the aerial truck was carefully unloaded from a flat rail car on Sept. 1, 1908, it was taken to the No. 7 Engine House where its ladder was attached. To test the new machine, firemen drove it to the Hotel Sterling to raise the ladder in practice drills.

A large crowd gathered around the Hotel Sterling and watched the ladder raised in less than 30 seconds expanding to the hotel’s sixth floor. Firemen took eight hand ladders from the sides of the new truck and placed them against the hotel within 20 seconds.

“The speed in raising the main extension of the new truck is acquired largely by two powerful springs under the front seat,” the Record reported.

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Being a new truck, firemen practiced raising and lowering the ladder. After a few practice drills, raising the ladder to the hotel’s sixth floor took less than 15 seconds.

Axles on the new aerial truck were manufactured at Wilkes-Barre’s Sheldon Axle Company that once stood on today’s Conyngham Avenue.

The aerial truck was used in service when a fire erupted in the annex basement at the five-story Bennett Building on Public Square on May 21, 1912.

The Record reported May 22, 1912, that water pressure hampered firefighters for 45 minutes until a continuous stream of water was found by turning on and off hydrants around 

A Brighton Area (MI) Fire Authority vehicle was struck while providing advanced warning for the department’s firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and other first responders as the team worked on a rollover accident on Interstate 96 Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, the department said in a Facebook post.

“This advanced warning was in response to a near miss that occurred early in the incident,” the post said.

Staff was working to slow traffic down when a fire apparatus, which was in the median shoulder, with emergency lights activated, was hit.

“Chief (Mike) O’Brian stated that our firefighter who was in the vehicle was struck by a KIA operated by a single occupant. Crews were pulled off the original accident and began critical care of the injuries driver as well as our command staff.

“Staff used the Jaws of Life to gain access to the driver of the KIA and worked with Livingston County EMS to provide care. Both staff and the patient were transported to Ann Arbor hospitals and BAFA staff has been released with no major injuries.

“It is a reminder to slow down and have patience when operating around emergency vehicles. Our staff have a very difficult job working on the freeway and their safety is our priority when accidents happen.”

The post MI Fire Department Vehicle Struck at Accident Scene appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

WARREN DILLAWAY
Star Beacon, Ashtabula, Ohio
(TNS)

ORWELL — Village officials announced Friday an Aug. 4 roadway incident involving a fire truck responding to a call on Route 322 and their response to it.

“On August 5, village management was formally notified by the Ohio State [Highway] Patrol and Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department that a collision had occurred on Route 322 involving an Orwell Fire Department vehicle responding to the emergency call,” a press release from the village states.

The vehicle was traveling through a construction zone and struck multiple construction barrels, according to the release. Two senior department officials were placed on administrative suspension.

“The Village’s policy clearly states any employee involved in a workplace accident is required to immediately report the incident and undergo standard post-incident testing,” the release states.

The release said first responders on the scene failed to report the incident to village management, resulting in administrative suspensions pending investigation.

“Following a review of dispatch logs, video footage, and witness testimony from the construction site, it was confirmed that the fire truck was traveling at a high rate of speed and caused damage upon impact with construction safety equipment,” the release states.

“The village places the highest priority on the safety of our residents, our emergency responders, and the broader community they serve,” Village Council President Christopher Ruks said in the release. “Massive fire trucks traveling at unsafe speeds, particularly through active construction areas, present a significant hazard.

“We regret that this incident placed construction workers at risk, and we are grateful no lives were lost. The Village is taking immediate steps to reinforce training, review operational procedures, and implement stronger accountability measures to prevent a recurrence.”

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Because of staffing issues caused by the suspensions, the village received assistance from the Windsor the Wayne fire departments and recruited new firefighters, the release states.

“Shane Gregory stepped forward as Interim Fire Chief and worked in close coordination with Village Manager Sean Ratican to stabilize staffing levels,” Ruks said in the release.

The new staff have fire fighter II certifications and are certified EMTs, he said.

“This represents a significant upgrade for our department and positions us to deliver a stronger, more reliable level of service to the residents of Orwell moving forward.” he said.

During the course of the investigation, Assistant Fire Chief Scott Merlino tendered his resignation, according to the release.

Merlino did not return a message seeking comment.

© 2025 the Star Beacon (Ashtabula, Ohio). Visit www.starbeacon.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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