As 3-Alarm Fire Burned, Everett’s Newest Ladder Truck Was In The Reject Bin

While it should have been on the scene on Broadway last night the newest ladder truck for the Everett Fire Department sits back at its manufacturer. Last year the Everett City Council authorized the purchase of a new ladder truck to replace one of the two aging ladder trucks currently in use.

Back in August MyEverettNews.com happened across the new ladder truck in the parking lot of the Hilton Garden Inn next to Paine Field. At that time the company was delivering the truck to Everett for final approval. One problem. The new truck was too heavy. Washington State law mandates weight for vehicles on the roadways and once the new ladder truck was loaded with the proper equipment it failed the weight tests. Here is an official explanation from Meghan Pembroke on behalf of the Everett Fire Department via email…

The department has been going through a lengthy acceptance process with our Rosenbauer ladder to ensure it met our contractual weight requirements, including those required by Washington State law. During our November 2016 inspection the department found that the ladder was overweight when loaded with Everett’s equipment. After several unsuccessful attempts by Rosenbauer to remove and redistribute weight with different engineering configurations we have come to the joint conclusion that the contract should be cancelled. Both parties have signed a contract cancellation agreement and Rosenbauer has issued a refund check for the entire amount paid by the City for this ladder. The department’s committee will now move forward in an expedited manner to develop new specifications for a ladder that will meet our state’s weight requirements with Everett’s equipment load.

Last night Everett’s two ladder trucks were in use along with a ladder truck from Marysville. There were also another dozen fire engines from around Snohomish County helping in the 3-alarm blaze.