Milwaukee fire truck hit by car; crash adds to chief's fleet concerns
Milwaukee fire truck damaged in crash, shrinking fleet
A Milwaukee fire truck was destroyed in a crash with a suspected drunk driver on Wednesday, as Chief Aaron Lipski says the loss adds urgency to replacing the department’s aging fleet.
MILWAUKEE - A violent crash involving a Milwaukee fire truck on Wednesday morning, April 22, is now adding urgency to calls for updated equipment.
What we know:
According to the Milwaukee Police Department, the collision happened near 13th and Layton. The driver of a vehicle lost control, veered into oncoming traffic and collided with an MFD fire truck, causing it to catch fire.
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The impact left the fire truck totaled.
13th and Layton, Milwaukee
The driver of the vehicle, a 24-year-old man, was extricated and transported to a hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. He was arrested on suspicion of OWI.
The passenger of the vehicle, a 24-year-old, was taken to a hospital for treatment of non-fatal injuries.
One firefighter suffered non-fatal injuries.
What they're saying:
"It’s not a call anybody wants to get, certainly not the chief," said Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski. "The description of what happened was just horrendous, you know, that we've had a head-on collision. The fire engine is on fire. There's people trapped."
Lipski said he is grateful only one firefighter was hurt.
"If they were in any other kind of vehicle, some or all of them are dead, there's just no way with the amount of impact," Lipski said.
However, Lipski says the truck itself is likely a total loss.
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"I don't see a path back for this engine," he said. "I mean, the cab is burned out. There's frame rail damage. The whole front end's all just jacked up," Lipski said.
Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski
The crash is renewing concerns about the department’s aging fleet. Last fall, Lipski warned of a "dire" situation, saying more than half of the department’s 57 trucks are over 15 years old, with some older than 20.
"It’s a mess at this point. I mean, it's just, we're deeper in the hole now," he said.
In November, the Common Council approved $10 million for new equipment, which Lipski said could fund three fire engines and possibly two ladder trucks.
However, those vehicles are not expected to arrive for about two years.
"It’s expensive, and it’s costly as far as, you know, managing a fleet of emergency vehicles, all those things are true, but our four members live to fight another day," Lipski said.
For now, the damaged truck will be replaced with a reserve engine, but Lipski says that is only a temporary solution.
What's next:
Criminal charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.
The Source: The Milwaukee Police Department and Milwaukee Fire Department provided information, and FOX6 had a crew at the scene.