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Edgerton fire district reports surge in calls; ladder truck declared beyond repair
Summary
The Edgerton-area fire district reported higher call volumes, multiple recent structure and vehicle fires, and that an in-service ladder truck suffered a catastrophic drivetrain failure and will not be repaired; the district plans to rely on shared apparatus with Milton and to declare the truck surplus.
A representative of the local fire district briefed the Edgerton City Council on recent call-volume increases, multiple November incidents and a ladder truck failure that the district will not repair.
The district reported a marked year-over-year increase in activity and described recent incidents including structure fires in Albion and Fulton and a multi-vehicle interstate crash with one truck fire; mutual aid from Edgerton police and neighboring municipalities was acknowledged.
The speaker said the ladder truck at the Edgerton station experienced a catastrophic drivetrain failure caused in part by frame corrosion and rust-damage. The district reported the vehicle is not roadworthy and will not pass Department of Transportation inspection. The district27s maintenance staff recommended against repair because corrosion could cause recurrent catastrophic failure.
Rather than repair, the district plans to declare the vehicle surplus and rely on apparatus-sharing with the neighboring municipality of Milton, moving an existing ladder truck to a central location for joint coverage and insurance purposes. The district noted that new ladder trucks currently cost roughly $2.5 million to $3 million.
The report also said the district will run some temporary over-hires to maintain service levels; those staffing decisions have produced a budget shortfall the fire district will manage internally. The council received the report; no council action to purchase a replacement ladder truck was taken at the meeting.
