Four Battle Creek firefighters suffered minor injuries when their fire engine lost control and rolled onto its side Sunday.
Battle Creek police reported the accident about 1:15 p.m. on Washington Avenue near Battle Creek Avenue.
"They are all banged up and sore and with some minor injuries," Fire Chief Dave Schmaltz said late Sunday afternoon. "They all should be released from the hospital today."
All four firefighters were taken to Bronson Battle Creek and police also reported they appeared to have suffered just scrapes and bruises. Police said all four were briefly trapped in the engine.The injured firefighters' names had not been released Sunday evening.
The engine was northbound on Washington Avenue traveling from Station 6 on the city's south side to a residential fire call in the 400 block of North Washington Avenue.
"They just crested the hill and the road was icy and the rig started to slide," Schmaltz said. "They couldn't get control and it started to go sideways and it just slid off."
The truck turned onto its passenger side on the west side of the roadway. No other vehicles were involved. All four firefighters were wearing seat belts.
Two heavy tow trucks were needed to pull the engine back onto his wheels. The truck was heavily damaged.
Schmaltz said the 17-year-old engine will be examined for the exact damage, but he expects it will be extensive and the engine may have to be considered a total loss.
He said the city bought a similar engine about a year ago for $475,000 and usually retires trucks after 20-25 years.
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