Georgia Fire Station Collapses on Responding Engine
Firefighters on their way to a call just before 10 a.m. Monday had to stop when part of the fire station collapsed on the fire truck, officials said.
Augusta Fire Chief Chris James said it appears some part of the fire engine at Station 9 on Walton Way Extension hit the center column between the garage doors, which caused a large portion of the building front to collapse.
"It's pretty bad," James said.
Although the collapse stopped the firetruck, James said it did not affect the response to the fire call. Another engine company picked the call up and responded immediately.
James said he is transferring firefighting crews to other stations on Washington Road and Flowing Wells Road while officials assess the damage and secure the building to make it safe. He said it should not affect response time of any call made in the Station 9 area.
Crews were unsure how extensive the damage was to the firetruck, which was covered with bricks from the falling building.
James said this is not the first time he's seen a station damaged by a firetruck but this is "probably the most extensive and unusual."
City Administrator Fred Russell said, "They're not going to be able to use (the station) for a while."
Copyright 2012 - The Augusta Chronicle, Ga.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service