By FireRescue1 Staff
MEDWAY, Maine — A fire chief resigned after city council refused to replace a fire truck that he said is unsafe.
Bangor Daily News reported that Medway Fire Chief Jon Buckingham said the department’s pumper-tanker has body rust, lost its transmission during tests and has had both electrical and steering repairs, but the city does not seem to agree with his opinion that it should be replaced.
“We have had several meetings on it and after having the meetings, I have come to the conclusion that the town and I are on two different pages when it comes to the safety of the apparatus and our crews,” Buckingham said.
Board of Selectman Chairman Bruce Jones said that although the city is sad to see Buckingham resign, they must follow the direction of the community, who voted against spending $450,000 on a new truck.
Residents instead voted to spend $20,000 to repair the truck, including former fire chief John Lee who did not think the city could afford to buy a new one.
Jones added that the truck’s lack of safety “is just his feeling and I really can’t say much more on it, other than it is out being repaired right now.”