30.09.2021

Lucky escape for tree worker

An insulated bucket truck caught fire on Tuesday in the town of Crown Point, on the south side of Chicago, Indiana.
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Photos courtesy of Crown Point Fire Rescue

The incident occurred when the boom of the Lift-All bucket truck made contact with overhead power lines while it was being used to prune tree limbs. Thankfully the tree worker managed to escape unhurt. Fire crews had to wait for the local utility company NIPSCO to fully de-energise the power lines before they were able to start fighting the flames. By then the machine was destroyed.
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The Lift-All has an insulated fibreglass top section and an insulated insert in the lower boom as well as an insulated bucket/platform – this is almost certainly how the operator was able to escape electrocution or injury. Lift-All was acquired by Altec in 2008.