Outside investigator to probe ladder collapse at fire scene

Boston Fire Department officials say an independent investigator will be brought in to determine what caused a ladder to collapse as firefighters battled a blaze at a three-story building.

A firefighter was on the hydraulic truck-mounted ladder Wednesday night when it buckled and fell onto the roof of the building. The firefighter was able to safely climb out of the ladder’s bucket onto the roof. No one was hurt.

Commissioner Joseph Finn says it’s too early to know the cause of what he described as a “catastrophic failure” of the ladder truck.

He says the truck was a backup being used while another truck was repaired. It’s about 13 years old, but the commissioner says it’s had extensive maintenance.