When Fire Trucks Start Running Off—Literally!

In a shocking show of boldness, a thief decided to steal a Ford F-150 right from the South Snohomish County Fire District while firefighters were busy tackling a residential blaze. That’s right, in broad daylight, with the truck’s engine running and emergency lights flashing! Imagine being a firefighter, and the very truck you rely on to respond to emergencies is whisked away like a kid swiping the class snack.

Fortunately, the police found the truck soon after, sporting some minor battle scars from its joyride but still intact. However, the fuel card went missing, adding another mystery to the escapade. This theft follows a similar incident just a week earlier involving an Everett Fire Department pumper truck that wreaked havoc on 14 parked cars. Are firefighting vehicles the new hot item on the black market?

South County Fire Chief Bob Eastman is understandably concerned over these thefts, stating they disrupt emergency services, all funded by the community. It raises a larger question about the safety and security of crucial emergency vehicles. What do you think? Should fire departments invest in advanced vehicle security systems, or is this just a case of bad luck?

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