First snowfall poses challenge for Wilmington fire truck

The first snowfall of the year started off slippery for the Wilmington Fire Department.

Tuesday morning as the snow was winding down one of Wilmington fire trucks slid on the snow covered ground shortly after responding to an accident at Oak Street and South Franklin Street. This happened around 9 a.m. while the fire apparatus was parked. The truck, which belongs to Company 6, slipped on iced roadway, hitting a parked vehicle and a residential building. Although one injury was reported, that came from the initial accident report not the fire truck incident.

Wilmington Police Department was called to both accidents as well as the Department of License & Inspection to take a look at a second floor apartment that was damaged by the fire truck. Officials are currently working to find housing for residents since the building was deemed unsafe.

In the Meantime, the Delaware Department of Transportation is urging motorists to continue to use caution while on the roads. Transportation crews were out yesterday, applying a salt mixture to the ground to help melt the snow. According to DelDOT, the snowfall was not enough to assign plows to roadways in all three counties.

However snow accumulation has been the heaviest in New Castle County where residents are cautioned on many secondary roads. Primary roads such as I-95 and Route 1 are essentially clear.