CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) - A crucial piece of equipment designed to help with rescues is out of service.

The ladder truck in Cape Girardeau has not been in use since September 8, after it was involved in a crash .

Ethan Essner, vice president for the Cape Girardeau Firefighters’ Association, said the fire department has a reserve ladder truck, but that one also needs repairs.

Without a ladder truck, Essner said firefighters will have a hard time responding to rescues at multi-story buildings.

According to Essner, the Cape Fire Department runs about 6,000 calls per year, and the ladder truck goes to about a thousand of those calls.

Without the equipment, he said they cannot guarantee the safety of the community or the firefighters.

“We swore an oath to protect the citizens, and th

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