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Chief: Engine is repairable

The Herald - 6/23/2018

June 23--SHARON -- Few people expect a second, racing firetruck, and that's how accidents like Thursday night's happen, Sharon Fire Chief Bob Fiscus said.

Four people suffered minor injuries and his department's rescue truck was disabled in a collision with another vehicle at Budd Street and the Shenango Valley Freeway. His firefighters were en route to what has been ruled the second arson this week in the same block.

Fiscus said it's not uncommon for motorists to make the mistake of yielding to one truck without noticing trailing vehicles headed to the same fire.

"What I've learned is that the second truck has the increased risk because people may hear the sirens and avoid the first truck, but then they hear the sirens of the second truck and assume it's still the first truck," Fiscus said.

Both firefighters in the fire engine were treated at Sharon Regional Medical Center and released. The two occupants of the other vehicle were also taken to the hospital, though Fiscus said their injuries at the scene did not appear to be serious.

The 2008 firetruck had to be towed from the accident scene, as the damage prevented the truck from being steered, moved or driven, Fiscus said.

"There was some relatively severe damage behind the front wheel on the driver's side, but it's still repairable," Fiscus said.

The fire they were headed to damaged a house at 926 Sherman Ave. in Sharon and has been ruled an arson.

The fire department responded about 10 p.m. to reports of smoke in the area and found the house's upper floors in flames. While the building suffered heavy burn damage to the second floor and attic, no one was in the house at the time of the fire, Fiscus said.

"It's concerning news, since this is the second arson we've had in the last few days," Fiscus said.

Both were right across the street from one another in the George Street, Sherman Avenue, Division Street area. The other fire, at 929 Sherman Ave., was reported about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, according to Mercer County 911.

In both cases, the houses were vacant and uninsured, and investigators determined the earlier fire was arson as well, Fiscus said.

Since the investigations are ongoing, it has not yet been determined whether the two arsons are connected, Fiscus said.

Responding fire departments for Thursday's fire came from Sharon, Farrell, Sharpsville, Hermitage, and Brookfield. No one was injured at the fire scene, Fiscus said.

The Sharon Fire Department's standard procedure is to send two fire engines to the scene of a fire, Fiscus said, but a third fire engine will be able to fill in while the damaged one is out of operation.

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