Firefighters weren’t paying attention and hadn’t been properly trained when a brand new $1.1 million fire truck was seriously damaged and put out of service during a training exercise in October, according to a report released Friday.
Fire Chief James Wilson has been directed to immediately establish new standard operating guidelines that also were found lacking after the truck’s 107-foot aerial ladder hit an overhead power line, sending an electrical current that destroyed the truck’s complex wiring systems and sparked a fire on the right front tire. Under the new guidelines, during any truck training sessions or equipment evaluations, firefighters will be expected to designate a spotter and conduct an “environmental assessment” to note any obstructions in the area that might injure people or damage equipment, City Manager Scott Morelli said.