A Texas fire department's newest pumper caught fire and was destroyed Thursday afternoon.
Snyder Volunteer Fire Department's 2019 Ferrara Class-A pumper was at the apparatus chassis manufacturer in Abilene—about a 80 miles east of Snyder—for warranty work, the department stated in an online post. A mechanic was taking the vehicle for a test drive when a tire unexpectedly caught fire.
The pumper sustained "extensive damage," and the cause of the fire is under investigation, according to the department. No injuries were reported from the incident, and no one from the Snyder VFD was on board the vehicle at the time. Video footage from the scene caught crews working to extinguish the blaze.
Costing $347,592, the apparatus was put in the field June 19, replacing a 26-year-old pumper. Department officials will now start looking for a replacement vehicle.
