KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A $1 million fire truck donated to New York City by East Tennesseans after the 2001 terrorist attacks is back in service after it was broken down for more than a year.
The 95-foot tower ladder truck -- dubbed the ''Freedom Engine'' -- was delivered and assigned to Ladder 14 in early 2002, but it was out of service for about 14 months and could not respond to fires, said Scott Mintier, chief executive officer of the truck's manufacturer, Seagrave Fire Apparatus.
The truck was back in its station in Harlem last Friday after body repairs and work on the hydraulic rotation motor were done.
''It's not a simple thing. It's not like replacing the brakes on your car,'' he said.
Retired firefighters raised concerns early this month over the truck's extended absence. Mintier acknowledged the company where he has been CEO since April needs to improve its service operations.
''The fact it was out of service for the length of time that it was is unconscionable,'' Mintier said.
The campaign to raise funds for the truck, which was initiated by The Knoxville News Sentinel newspaper, generated more than $969,000, mostly in small contributions from more than 6,000 individuals across East Tennessee.
Information from: The Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com
