Firetruck heavily damaged after catching fire
TOWN OF SALINA, N.Y. — A firetruck has been heavily damaged after flames consumed it Friday morning north of the city of Syracuse.
The firetruck was burning near the Exit 36 Thruway toll plaza at the Interstate 81 interchange. Smoke billowing from the fire could be seen from miles away.
Our crew at the scene says the firetruck is a ladder truck, also known as a "tiller."
The Liverpool Fire Chief tells us the firetruck was an old unit from the Kansas City Fire Department and was en-route to a fire department in Canada when it caught fire.
Officials say the driver smelled something burning when he exited the Thruway and pulled over. He was able to escape before the firetruck became completely engulfed in flames. Several departments responded to the scene because there were no fire hydrants nearby, fire officials tell us.
Nobody was injured in the fire, but two vehicles and a building that were near the fire were damaged, in addition to the firetruck.
No tickets have been issued. State Police are investigating the incident.
