In the early hours of Wednesday, Maitland firefighters faced an unforeseen challenge as a fire erupted in their own backyard, declaring three city-owned vehicles a total loss, and racking up damages estimated to be around $1 million. The blaze, which ignited under the cloak of night, was first spotted shortly after 3 a.m. at the Maitland Fire Station 47's surrounding facilities on Fennell Street, not far from the neighboring police department, which was also ensnared within the caution tape perimeter post-incident, as reported by WESH.
Among the affected vehicles were a spare ambulance, a rehabilitation unit often utilized as a recuperative enclave for firefighters and law enforcement, and a front-end loader, with Maitland's Fire Chief Chris Morton, lamenting the setback and noting the spare ambulance was due for imminent upgrades for future service, according to WFTV.
Now that the fire is out, the State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause, but initial reports suggest it wasn’t due to any wrongdoing. Fire Chief Morton stated that while the incident caused significant damage and financial loss, the vehicles were insured and both the fire station and the city remain determined to move forward
