The Riverside Ladder Truck; photo courtesy of the Riverside Fire Department

The Riverside Fire Department’s ladder truck is headed to a body shop this week to repair damage caused by vandalism over Halloween. According to Riverside Fire Chief Chad Smothers, the truck was pelted by eggs during trick-or-treating hours, and the paint was affected as a result. They believe they can buff out the damage and reseal the wax job, as opposed to repainting the truck. Smothers says the initial estimated cost for the body work is around $200, but they won’t know the amount for sure until the work is complete.

He adds, “The body shop guy is supposed to get it fixed this week. So once he has his work done to it, he’ll submit his bill and the council will proceed from there as far as making the individuals responsible possibly pay for the damage.” According to Smothers, those responsible for the vandalism have been identified, but their identities have not been made public. If the repairs are unsuccessful, they may have to get the truck repainted, which would have a much higher cost.