Swanton sues firm to recoup fire costs

3/25/2006

WAUSEON The village of Swanton wants almost $109,000 from a northeast Ohio trucking company for costs the village claims its fire department incurred last year fighting a blaze caused by a tractor-trailer crash.

The village filed suit Thursday in Fulton County Common Pleas Court against Wills Trucking Inc., of Richfield, and Jeffrey Cole, of Perrysburg Township.

Mr. Cole, according to the suit, was driving the tractor-trailer loaded with lime pebble April 3 when it crashed into Champion Pools Inc. on Airport Highway.

The building, which stored chlorine and other chemicals, caught fire.

The village billed Wills Trucking for its expenses in fighting the fire, but has not been paid, according to the lawsuit.

A message left for officials of the trucking firm was not returned yesterday.