By Peter Hermann and Martin Weil
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — Seven of the ladder trucks in the D.C. fire department’s fleet have failed inspection and have been taken out of service.
In a statement issued Sunday night the department said seven of 17 ladder trucks, or more than 40 percent, were found to have rust at the base of the ladder support. The department said the seven “will not return” to service “until the issues affecting them are resolved.”
Most departments have regular inspection programs in which the possibility exists that any given piece of apparatus might be found wanting. However, the removal from service of so large a proportion of any category of equipment appeared to be unusual.
Full story: Seven fire department ladder trucks fail inspection, are removed from service