Was fire truck sabotaged?

Former Flomaton Fire Department Chief Jimmy Brantley, who still remains a volunteer fireman, told members of the Flomaton Town Council Monday night that a fire truck had been sabotaged and an investigation needed to be launched.

Brantley prefaced his comments by saying he was not looking for a job.

“I'm here to report a wrong, a gross wrong,” Brantley told the council. “The old fire truck was vandalized.”

Brantley was referring to a 1984 fire truck still being used by the Flomaton Fire Department.

In April, Brantley appeared before the council saying the 1984 truck had failed a pump test and needed the clutch replaced. The issue then was whether or not to try and fix the old truck or purchase a new truck at a cost of about $300,000.

The council voted then to spend about $3,000 to fix the old truck. In April Brantley said there was no explanation as to why the truck kept failing its pump test.

Monday night, he said the truck failed the pump test because it had been vandalized. He also said the council needed to get the person who did the pump test to come to Flomaton and explain why and also recommended not paying the bill.

Town Clerk Shila Carter said she has not seen a bill for the pump test.

Brantley said an investigation needed to be made to see who vandalized the truck and to hold those people responsible.

Town Attorney Chuck Johns recommended to the council that it contact the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to have an outside department conduct the investigation.

When contacted, Fire Chief Steve Stanton had no comment other than he didn't know anything about it.