Accidents happen

This time of year there are always various hazards in the back country of Vermont. Everything from wild life to road conditions as well as the completely bizarre. All of the above happened yesterday in a relatively short period of time.

With the crappy weather we experienced yesterday I should have known something was going to happen. All the roads were snow covered and icy. Just as Shawn and I headed out of town to do some Christmas shopping we heard the ambulance and fire department get toned for a car accident. We turned the car around and headed back since we were only a few miles outside of town. Just as we turned around we came across a moose that was trying to cross the road:

After a brief encounter with wildlife, which I haven't seen much of in the last couple of months, we were back on our way to the fire station. Upon our arrival at the fire station we found a man across the street yelling something to us and other members of the department. I only heard "the town is going to have to pay for this!" but paid it no mind as I went into the station, got into my turnout gear, and headed on my way in the fire engine to the accident. One we arrived we were immediately canceled by the chief. Nothing special. Go figure.

When we returned to the station I figured out what all the yelling was about, which is now a well known story through the small town (it doesn't take long for news like this to get around...) Apparently before we got to the station a couple of other firefighters were there and pulled out our rescue truck and let it idle in the parking lot while they finished getting on their gear. As they were dressing the truck somehow slipped into or out of gear, rolled forward, down the hill, and into a house across the street. Despite the horrendous public perception that creates I couldn't help but laugh. Our firetruck hit a house?! I couldn't believe it. I mean, what the hell, does that ever happen in real life? ...apparently. No one was inside the rescue truck either, when it decided to take a joy ride across the road and into side of a house.

There was some damage to the outside of the house, exposed insulation, and damage to the window. I do not know the extent of the damage inside, but heard the wall was pretty hurt by the impact. You can see the tracks the truck took as it careened down the hill... I still can't help but to snicker when I think about it. Is that bad? There was no damage to the truck, and of course the town and the police are investigating.

Random. Rediculous. Hilarious. What a day.
And we did finally get to go Christmas shopping.