SCP-4601 before the events of Operation B

Item #: SCP-4601
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: Containment efforts are focused on limiting knowledge of SCP-4601's existence from the general public.
Current objectives of containment are to guide SCP-4601 away from densely populated areas with controlled fires in designated locations secluded from public view.
Any witnesses to SCP-4601's anomalous behavior are to be administered amnestics appropriate to degree of exposure.
Note: These Procedures are scheduled to be updated, pending full assessment of the results of Operation B (See Addendum 4601-3).
Description: SCP-4601 is an American-manufactured quint fire engine. Barring minor cosmetic damage (deep gouges in paint, minor dents and scrapes on front and rear bumpers, a pronounced scratch on the surface of the left windshield, etc.), SCP-4601 is in good operating condition and bears no significant physical differences from similar firefighting vehicles.
SCP-4601 displays sapient behavior. It is capable of complete autonomous operation, both vehicular and of attached firefighting apparatus. It is also able to speak, which it does in a gruff masculine tone. Primary behavior consists of driving circuitously around the streets of New York until it locates an actively burning fire. Upon locating any instance of an open flame,1 SCP-4601 will aggressively douse the source of the fire with water from an inbuilt deluge gun.
Addendum 4601-1: Initial Discovery
SCP-4601 came to the Foundation's attention on the evening of October 24, 2009; following an incident which took place on the set of "█████ ████████", a competitive cooking-based television program. During the taping of an episode, SCP-4601 appeared and caused a public disturbance along with major property damage. Camera footage recovered from the set recorded the entire incident.

+ Open Video Log (10/24/09, ~20:00)

- Close Video Log (10/24/09, ~20:00)

<Begin Video Log>
Host: Thirty minutes left on the clock and Team Blue is already on dessert! Have you lost your bearings; are you new!?
Red Chef B: No, boss!
Host: Then get your ass in gear! I want those pork chops out on the double!
Red Chef B: Yes, boss!
(The host approaches another chef at the Red Team's preparations table. He scowls at a plate of pork chops that the chef is coating in sauce.)
Host: Chef! Several of these pork chops look undercooked.
Red Chef A: Sorry, boss! I'm trying my best, boss!
Host: Stop with the pity and … wait a tick.
(The host examines the meat again, touching every piece with his hands. The host frowns and turns to Chef A.)
Host: They're raw! All of these are fucking raw!
(Red Chef A shudders and bows her head.)
Chef A: I'm terribly sorry, boss! I'm trying to get these dishes up on time but there's too-
Host: I don't want excuses! I want results! What is going on, chef? Have you suddenly forgot how to cook or hav-
(SCP-4601 suddenly crashes through the studio wall towards the rear of the set. Cast and crew members flee from the area.)
Red Chef A: Wah!
Red Chef B: Oh shit!Host: Where the hell did that come from!? This ain't part of the show!
Blue Chef: Look, it's moving!
(SCP-4601 turns its wheels and maneuvers itself in the rubble. The truck's hose waves in the air, gesturing toward the witnesses.)(SCP-4601 points the nozzle of the hose toward the stovetop of a cooking station. Flames are coming from the burner.)Host: Everyone! Leave the building! Somebody call 911!
(Red Chef B attempts to use his cellphone. SCP-4601 directs a stream of water from the hose at him; the civilian is knocked over and drops the phone.)(SCP-4601 returns its attention to the stove.)Blue Chef: What the fuck?(SCP-4601 sprays pressurized water on all the stoves. The rest of the civilians flee from the set. Splashing water knocks over the camera recording the footage; transmission ends.)
<End Video Log>

Agents from Mobile Task Force Pi-1 ("City Slickers") responded to the incident; however, SCP-4601 had already left the scene and could not be located in the area. All witnesses were amnesticised and a cover story involving a drunk driver was fabricated to account for structural damages.
Addendum 2: Follow-up Investigations
A number of 911 Emergency Dispatch calls over the following hours were resolved under irregular circumstances. Firefighting crews attending active fire calls reported that, upon arriving on-scene, the fires were already extinguished. No other firehouses were found to have dispatched any response to the calls in question.
Analysing the locations of these incidents, MTF Pi-1 was able to establish an approximate boundary for the ongoing SCP-4601 activity. A plan was enacted to draw SCP-4601 into contact.

+ Open Operation Log A (10/25/09, ~18:00)

- Close Operation Log A (10/25/09, ~18:00)

Foreword: A trashfire was set in a discreet alleyway near the central point of SCP-4601 activity. Agent Rodney was designated to interact with SCP-4601 and attempt to elicit as much information as possible.
<Begin Log>
(Flashing red and white lights illuminate the walls of the alleyway. A firetruck's siren whoops erratically. SCP-4601 approaches the fire.)(SCP-4601 maneuvers its hose toward the trash can.)(SCP-4601 stays silent for 9 seconds.)(At this point Agent Rodney was instructed to intervene. He leaps from an alcove with a fire extinguisher.)(Agent Rodney sprays the fire extinguisher into the trashcan until the flames are put out. Agent Rodney places the fire extinguisher on the ground and turns to face SCP-4601.)
Agent Rodney: The only good fire is a dead fire.Agent Rodney: You're talking to these fires? To find out about 'The Infernals'?Agent Rodney: Um… Well, I'm uh… I'm not sure if it's the same guys you're talking about. I don't even know who you are.(SCP-4601 beams its lights and revs its engine.)
Agent Rodney: 'The Red Menace'?(SCP-4601 beams its lights and revs its engine.)
Agent Rodney: Alright. And you can call me… Mr. R!
(Agent Rodney flexes his bicep.)
(Silence.)Agent Rodney: Well hang on, I said I'm not sure. Can you describe these ones you're after?Agent Rodney: Um, huh?Agent Rodney: Do you mean… were your family members fire trucks?(A single bead of wiper fluid trickles down the windshield of SCP-4601)
Agent Rodney: Please, can you tell me what happened?Agent Rodney: But, were they okay?Agent Rodney: Well hey, I could help! The organization I'm with, they're powerful. You'd just need to come back with me to-Agent Rodney: It's not like that. We really need you to come along to our base here, and it'd be a good thing for you too.Agent Rodney: You don't get it, I've got to take you back. Like, this has to happen. So don't make things hard and nobody has to get hurt-
(Members of MTF Pi-1 move to box in SCP-4601 in the alleyway. SCP-4601 blares its airhorn and drives away, forcing itself through two Foundation cars and injuring three Field Agents in the process.)
(Pursuit of SCP-4601 from the scene was a failure.)

Subsequent investigation of this information led a Field Agent to the quarters of FDNY Squad ██. It was revealed that an accidental grease fire had previously occurred in the kitchen of the firehouse, but it was extinguished without any serious injuries. While the firefighters were distracted by that situation, however, one of their firetrucks had apparently been stolen from the garage and was still missing.
Notably, these events would have taken place in the hours just prior to the first documented appearance of SCP-4601.
Addendum 3: Establishing Comprehensive Containment
The relevant Foundation authorities concluded that immediately achieving complete physical containment of SCP-4601 was the most appropriate course of action.

+ Open Operation Log B (10/26/09, ~04:00)

- Close Operation Log B (10/26/09, ~04:00)

Foreword: By modifying a pair of Foundation pickup trucks to create mobile platforms for bonfires, Agents of MTF Pi-1 intended to draw SCP-4601 into contact and establish comprehensive containment.
<Begin Log>
Agent Harper: Roger that, everyone's reading loud and clear. Okay, Car-1 and Car-2, stick together for now. Once you get that thing on your tails try and draw it up out onto the parkway - we have our best shot at taking it out there.
Agent Martell: 10-4, sir!
Agent Harper: Spotter Units, keep a roaming box on the situation - one block in all directions - we aren't giving any chances for it to shake us this time.
Agent Rodney Spot-6 here. We're on point, eyes wide open.
Agent Cross: Hey mind those turns 1-1, yeesh!
Agent Kelly: C'mon; that's why you're harnessed and clipped in, 1-2. Just keep the fire stoked back there.
Agent Cross: I'm sayin' we're gonna be droppin' embers all over the roads here if you don't mind your drivin'!
Agent Polk: Ayyy, 2-2 to 1-2, gedda' loada' dis' guy, eh?
Agent Cross: (Laughing) Oh, yous' a wiseguy 2-2? Gedda' load a' deez guys; ayyy.
Agent Harper: Cut the chatter, guys.
Agent Polk: Roger.
(Pause)
Agent Hunter: Guys, this is Spot-5. I think we may have something here - gonna be coming westbound on 83rd… Standby one.
(Pause)
Agent Hunter: Spot-5, confirming eyes on target! Hey 1 and 2, you better make ready to zig left once it crosses you, over.Agent Martell: Car-2, we have contact! Skip is on our six now.Agent Harper: Copy that Car-2. Try and keep your heading until you've passed the park, then swing back east.
Agent Polk: 1-2, you hear that? This thing got a stereo now?
Agent Cross: Yeah, that's music alright!
(SCP-4601 clips a car crossing an intersection, the civilian vehicle careens sideways and over the curb.)(SCP-4601 begins blasting water ahead of its path. Unit Car-2 accelerates to avoid the spray.)
Agent Polk: Hey, move it here!  We got it riding our asses; gotta put some clearance between us first, to make that turn on the throughway.
Agent Tran: Hey this is Spot-4 here, we're gonna end up merging before the park ahead. We can try and make that space for you.
Agent Harper: Negative, Spot-4 - do not attempt to block this thing.
(Unit Spot-4 enters the intersection seconds after SCP-4601 passes and proceeds in same direction of travel.)
SCP-4601 Bystanders need to back off. Go home and watch the fireplace channel, rubberneckers!
(A sudden traffic obstruction forces Units Car-1 and Car-2 to pass in single file. SCP-4601 blasts more water, Unit Car-1 is unable to evade the stream.)(Unit Spot-4 hydroplanes on wet streets and loses control, skidding into a column of parked cars.)
Agent Vasquez: Shit! Guys, Four is out - repeat: Spot-4 is out.
Agent Cross: This is no good. Everything's soaked and done for in here, Car-1 is doused.
Agent Harper: Car-2 stay on the parkway there! You're all we got to lead this thing on now.
Agent Martell: Ah crap. Hey Polk, hang on back there! This is gonna get a bit crazy.
(Unit Car-2 weaves through the next intersection into the opposite lanes. In pursuing, SCP-4601 is unable to complete the maneuver and collides with the central median.)
Agent Rodney: Whoa! It just crashed right there! Spot-6 is closing, standby all.
(SCP-4601 has become high-centred on the concrete barrier. Its wheels spin without gaining traction on the ground. The engine can be heard revving loudly.)
Agent Rodney: Yeah, it's hung up on the divider between lanes; definitely stuck there. Everybody, wait one before approaching.
(Agent Rodney exits his car and approaches SCP-4601 on foot.)Agent Rodney: Look, this doesn't have anything to do with fires.Agent Rodney: No, it's not like that. There's.. there's more to this than you understand.Agent Rodney: But they were never eve- um.. No. No, they would be proud of you. Listen, me and my colleagues have been keeping track of everything you've been doing.Agent Rodney: So we've talked to the people. They spoke of the good you did. That you were right there when they needed your help. That you… you made things better for them.(The engine of SCP-4601 begins to splutter)(SCP-4601's engine stalls out. SCP-4601 ceases all movement and activity. Agents confirm that it has run out of fuel.)
(SCP-4601 was transported by MTF Alpha-27 ("MTF Who Demands Tows") to Site-14, where further disablement measures were taken.)
Afterword: SCP-4601 is currently contained, with battery disconnected and driveshaft disengaged, in Vehicle Containment Bay #7 at Site-19. Researchers will investigate other documented accounts of sentient vehicles mimicking living entities, for any parallels or potential insight on the origins of this case. Following repairs to structural and mechanical damage sustained in the course of containment, attempts to reactivate SCP-4601's anomalous state await further consideration.

***

Footnotes
1. SCP-4601 makes no distinction between controlled burning or legitimate fire emergencies.

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