Someone’s been driving a fire truck around Limerick for months. It’s not the fire department.
Private Vehicle with Emergency Lights Sparks Alarm in Limerick
A privately owned vehicle that has been operating like a fire truck around Limerick for months has finally been identified, according to local officials and state police. The truck, which has been seen with flashing lights and a blasting siren, was not linked to the Limerick Fire‑Rescue Department or any other emergency agency.
The Limerick Fire‑Rescue Department first posted a warning on its Facebook page Sunday evening. In a brief video clip, the department cautioned residents that the vehicle “is not associated in any way with the Limerick Fire Department or any surrounding town. This vehicle is believed to be personally owned.” The post urged anyone who had seen or recorded the truck to share the information with Maine State Police.
Fire Chief Jared Welsh explained that the department had received a series of reports over the past several months. “The driver has been identified and the issue has been resolved,” Shannon Moss, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety, told reporters in an email on Tuesday evening. Moss said she was awaiting additional details from the trooper who is handling the investigation.
Chief Welsh added that members of the public had reported hearing sirens and seeing the truck, but no emergency was ever underway. “We’ve had reports of such instances over the course of a few months,” he said. “Members of the public have reported hearing sirens and seeing the truck, but no signs of an emergency in the area.” While he estimated the incidents were “a few times per month,” comments on the department’s Facebook post suggest the truck may have appeared “much more often, possibly multiple times a week.”
The situation has raised questions about compliance with state regulations governing emergency lights. Maine law, specifically Title 29‑A, Section 2054, defines a fire department vehicle as one that is “owned by, registered to and maintained by a governmental agency or political subdivision that is equipped and used primarily for response to a fire or emergency situation.” Vehicles that do not meet this definition are prohibited from using emergency lighting.
Residents in the Lake Arrowhead area, where most of the sightings occurred, were urged to stay alert and report any future incidents. The Limerick Fire‑Rescue Department thanked the community for its cooperation and for helping to bring the matter to a close.
The driver’s identity and the circumstances that led to the misuse of emergency equipment are still under investigation. The Maine Department of Public Safety and the Limerick Fire‑Rescue Department have confirmed that the vehicle is no longer in use for any unauthorized emergency calls. The case remains a reminder of the importance of proper use of emergency signage and the vigilance of local communities.
