A Santa Fe (NM) man is accused of stealing a Santa Fe Fire Department apparatus after asking firefighters for a ride to a gas station, reports santafenewmexican.com.

Julio Avila, 28, was charged with robbery, two counts of aggravated battery, driving while intoxicated, possession of a controlled substance, and reckless driving after he took a Chevrolet Colorado truck belonging to the department Friday, officials say.

Earlier: Elba (AL) Fire Department Apparatus Stolen as Department Handles Call

Avila had reportedly pulled over while driving a friend’s vehicle on Interstate 25 to ask firefighters assisting another vehicle for a ride to a gas station.

Firefighter Daniel Coyne drove him to the Allsup’s on Avenida Del Sur, with fellow firefighter Ramon Vilorio in another vehicle. While at Allsup, Coyne exited the vehicle and Vilorio parked parallel to him, according to the report.

Avila jumped into the fire apparatus and attempted to drive away in reverse. Vilorio and Coyne tried to grab the doors to stop him, but Avila escaped and drove to the highway. Neither of the firefighters were seriously injured in the incident.

Avila was then stopped by Santa Fe County deputies on I-25 and was told to exit the vehicle with his hands up. He complied and was promptly arrested with a small amount of methamphetamine, along with another small bag of the drug in his backpack in his friend’s car. He told deputies he had consumed meth three hours prior to stealing the car. He was booked into the Santa Fe County jail.

According to a report from Hoover Sun, the Hoover, Alabama, City Council has approved the purchase of three new trucks for the Hoover Fire Department (HFD) at a cost to the city of $2.5 million.

Hoover City Administrator Allan Rice said two of the HFD’s ladder trucks need replacing. In addition, with an 11th HFD station opening on the horizon, the city also needs to replace at least one pumper truck per year to keep its fleet up to date.

Rice said that each ladder truck will cost approximately $1 million, while the pumper trucks will cost around $540,000.

The approval means the city will now place an order with Sutphen Fire Apparatus. According to the purchase agreement, the order should be filled in 12 to 14 months, which includes building and delivery.

Rice said the city must place the order by the end of August before an expected price increase takes effect. If the council waits, the price will increase by $162,500, according to records. By using a lease-to-purchase plan, the city can save $61,752, a total savings of $224,262.

The council will reconvene to discuss the best way to pay for the apparatus while it considers capital expenditures for the coming year.

When the Elba (AL) Fire Department responded to a structure fire over the weekend that destroyed a home, officials say someone broke into the department’s station and stole a utility vehicle before leading officers on a 10-minute pursuit which ended with the stolen apparatus crashed into a utility pole, reports dothaneagle.com.

Jakori Warren, 25, of Elba, was arrested on scene by Elba Police and transported to the Coffee County Jail after being cleared by medical personnel. His charges include third-degree burglary, first-degree theft of property, attempt to elude, and resisting arrest.

It all started at approximately 10:16 p.m. Saturday, when Elba firefighters were dispatched to a reported structure fire on Martin Luther King Drive; the New Brockton Volunteer Fire Department was immediately called in for mutual aid.

No firefighters or civilians were injured, but multiple pets were unable to be rescued.

Officials say the damaged apparatus will not affect the department’s response time, as a contingency plan has been put into place.

Spartan ER—Bono (TX) Volunteer Fire Department S-180 pumper. Metro Star EVMD raised-roof cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump; 1,000-gallon polypropylene water tank; 20-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 1600 single-agent foam system. Dealer: Metro Fire Apparatus Specialists, Houston, TX.

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