LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- Several Jefferson County Fire Departments that responded to the massive April 3 fire at GE's Appliance Park are now assessing their equipment for potential long-term damage.
The Highview Fire Department has taken its aerial ladder truck out of commission after signs of rust in the cables that suspend the ladder and water apparatus.
"What's going to happen to it, maybe not today or tomorrow but down the road?" said Highview Chief Dave Goldsmith. "We don't want to have a catastrophic failure with the ladder being up and somebody being at the end of it."
The six-acre Building 6 at Appliance Park was consumed by the flames, plastic parts and other materials sent an acrid, black smoke plume towering into the sky, visible for dozens of miles.
Of the 16 fire departments that responded, at least three of them with equipment closest to the fire which stayed on the scened for several days have since noticed unusual wear and tear to chrome, aluminum and other metal on their fire trucks, presumably linked to sustained exposure to the burning plastic materials inside Building 6.
"We were there from the inception," Goldsmith said, "from the time the fire came in. It was there for four days."
Other exposed metal on Highview's aerial ladder truck shows discoloration.
Highview estimates the repairs may reach $100,000. It would cost about 800,000 to replace the aerial ladder truck.
Goldsmith expects it could be out of service about six months, during which time Highview will depend on neighboring departments if it needs an aerial ladder.
The McMahan Fire Department's aerial ladder was also on the front lines and photos taken by the fire department also show signs of rust from the fire. Insurance adjusters and manufacturers are consulting with the departments.
The Jeffersontown Fire Department Chief also confirms to WHAS11 its ladder truck has similar damage.
Appliance Park is in the Okolona Fire Department's service area. Okolona Chief Chris Gosnell said he is following up with all the departments that responded.
"This fire may be different from normal garden variety fires that we would respond to," Gosnell said. "The duration. This fire lasted in terms of days rather than in terms of hours."
