Trash truck’s brakes ignite, stop Holden traffic

Overheated brakes ignited a trash truck Tuesday afternoon and held up traffic for about 45 minutes on Levenseller Road in Holden.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze at about 5 p.m.

No one was injured.

The vehicle was making trash pickups when the constant starting and stopping motion, coupled with warm weather, overheated its hydraulic brakes. When the truck stopped, friction set the underside and tires on fire, according to Holden police Officer Chris Greeley.

The driver unsuccessfully attempted to douse the blaze with a fire extinguisher.

Flames were getting quite large when the Fire Department arrived, and Greeley worried that they could threaten nearby homes, he said.

The 21-ton 2002 Mack truck, owned by Waste Management of Maine in Norridgewock, was carrying a full load of rubbish, exacerbating the problem.

“The crew of six firefighters did a great job preventing more damage,” Greeley said. “With a full fuel tank and trash load, it could have been a nightmare.”

Three tires valued at $700 each were destroyed, but Greeley said the truck is salvageable.

An Old Town woman was summoned early Tuesday afternoon for taking $160 worth of jewelry and clothing from Fashion Bug on Union Street in Bangor, according to police.

An employee reported a woman had entered the store and placed two watches into a bag she was carrying. The employee watched the woman walk outside and into a vehicle without paying for the items.

After escorting the individual back into the building, the employee found that Erika Lewey, 25, had taken three necklaces, three ankle bracelets, two watches, a red halter top and a pair of flip-flops, according to police.

Lewey told police she had taken the merchandise totaling $159.44 but didn’t think the employee saw her do so, Officer Dennis Lally reported.

Lewey was summoned for theft.

The Bangor Fire Department performed equipment exercises Tuesday afternoon on the Penobscot River.

According to Capt. Anthony Riitano, crews launched a small rescue boat around 2 p.m. in order to test its operation. All on-duty personnel participated.

The exercise took place on the river between the three bridges linking Bangor and Brewer.

The tests lasted more than an hour and were successful, Riitano said.

– Compiled by BDN reporter Andrew Knapp