SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — A construction worker suffered minor injuries when the road grinding machine he was operating malfunctioned and caught fire.
South Berwick Fire Chief George Gorman said the call came in at 8:17 Tuesday morning.
The man was working on a town pavement project on Emerys Bridge Road.
“A bearing let go, came apart, and took out the hydraulic lines and the electrical lines,” Gorman said. “The fire started from there and destroyed the machine.”
Gorman said the operator of the grinder was up on the platform at the time and was hit by some of the shrapnel.
“He was checked out at the scene by rescue who said he was alright,” Gorman said.
South Berwick Fire Department responded with one engine and one tanker.
The grinding machine belongs to Busby Construction Co., Inc. of Atkinson, N.H.
Jon St Pierre, public works director for South Berwick, said the company has told him they’re looking for a new pavement grinder so they can resume the paving work on Emerys Bridge Road. The project was expected to finish up this week, but may run into next week depending on how long it takes them to find a new machine.
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