Caribou council waives Spud Speedway EMS fee after infield ambulance struck; discussion turns to insurance, staffing and event policy

The Caribou City Council unanimously voted Oct. 20 to waive a $450 EMS fee for Spud Speedway’s Sept. 27 coverage after Speedway representatives described the track’s large economic impact and difficulties securing insurance. The vote came as councilors discussed a Sept. 28 incident in which a demolition-derby vehicle struck a municipal ambulance that had been positioned in the infield at the owner’s direction.

Why it matters: The exchange exposed two connected issues: short staffing and overtime pressure within the Caribou Fire & Ambulance Department, and unclear expectations about insurance and event coverage that the city and event organizers must reconcile to reduce liability and improve safety at large events.

Spud Speedway owner Jim Gamage asked the council to waive the $450 EMS fee, citing attendance figures for the track’s season and economic benefit to the city. “It’s a big economic impact that Spud Speedway has and I’m just asking that you waive that $450,” Gamage told the council. He said the facility had about 22,000 attendees in 2024 and referenced third-party tracking data (Placer.ai) used to estimate…