Tanker's Batteries Stolen from TN Fire Station

Batteries from a Tennessee fire department's tanker were stolen while it was parked at the station this week, disabling the apparatus and making it unable to respond to calls.

Hardin County firefighters were heading out to a call Wednesday afternoon when they discovered their District 15 fire station had been broken into, and the tanker batteries had been taken, the department said in a social media post. A Stihl chainsaw, a Husky rotary forcible entry saw and a portable radio also were missing.

Fire officials believe the break-in happened between noon Sunday and Wednesday. Firefighters had been called to a kitchen fire at a colleague's house, but other units were able to handle the incident, according to the department.

"Thankfully we didn’t end up needing the tanker, but that’s just because we were lucky and blessed," Chief Melvin Martin told The (Savannah, TN) Courier. "This could have been so, so much worse, all because someone decided stealing something to make a few bucks was worth more than possibly costing someone’s life."

The batteries and other stolen items are estimated between $2,000 and $5,000, according to The Courier. Anyone with information about the burglary should call the Hardin County Sheriff's Department at 731-925-900