Orwell Fire Truck Crash Leads to Suspensions, Staffing Shakeup

According to a press release from the Village of Orwell, on August 4, 2025, an Orwell Fire Department vehicle responding to an emergency call on Route 322 was involved in a collision. The fire truck was traveling through a construction zone and struck multiple construction barrels.

As a result of the incident, two senior department officials were placed on administrative suspension pending an investigation. The village's policy requires any employee involved in a workplace accident to immediately report the incident and undergo standard post-incident testing. However, the first responders on the scene failed to report the incident to village management, leading to the suspensions.

After reviewing dispatch logs, video footage, and witness testimony, the village confirmed that the fire truck was traveling at a high rate of speed and caused damage upon impact with the construction safety equipment. The village council president stated that the safety of residents, emergency responders, and the broader community is the top priority, and that fire trucks traveling at unsafe speeds, particularly through active construction areas, present a significant hazard.

To address the staffing issues caused by the suspensions, the village received assistance from neighboring fire departments and recruited new firefighters. The new staff have fire fighter II certifications and are certified EMTs, representing a significant upgrade for the department. During the investigation, the assistant fire chief also tendered his resignation.

The village is now taking immediate steps to reinforce training, review operational procedures, and implement stronger accountability measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents and ensure a stronger, more reliable level of service for the residents of Orwell moving forward.