A high-ranking Springfield fire official has been putting the finishing touches on his retirement plans, but his bosses are not celebrating.

Mike Abbott, division chief of operations for the fire department, wrote a letter to Illinois Times trying to refute much of what was reported about the Too Tall Truck. A new truck, costing more than a (m) million dollars, was reportedly too tall to fit under the Capitol Avenue overpass – but a photo published with Abbott’s letter shows the truck beneath the Capitol Avenue tracks!

Mayor Buscher has told reporters that truck should never been purchased and blamed the then-fire chief, Blandon Blough (pictured). Current chief Ed Canny was quoted as saying any new truck you buy now will be a tall one, but as for Abbott’s status, both Canny and mayoral spokeswoman Haley Wilson said it’s a personnel matter. The mayor did not respond to a request for comment.