Stations
1, 5, 26, and 27 responded to a tractor trailer fire on I-95 at the 56
mile marker southbound, 27-June at 08:50. The trailer experienced
problems in the area of the rear wheels causing a fire that extended
into the cargo area, igniting the load of 25 pound bags of dog food.
First arriving units encountered heavy fire conditions under the
trailer which were burning up the exterior sides of the trailer. This
fire was quickly brought under control with the use of one 1-3/4 hand
line. The wooden floor and interior walls had been breached by the
fire and set three rows of dog food on fire.
Firefighters
used a piercing nozzle connected to a second 1-3/4 hand line to
penetrate the sides of the trailer. Crew members entered the trailer
and began unloading bags of dog food by hand. They continued to work
with an 1-3/4 handline inside the trailer, but were unable to reach
the fire below the stored bags of dog food. Two rows were removed
until the fire could be kept in check. A backhoe and wrecker from
Gerald's Wrecker Service was brought the scene. The backhoe was able
to quickly dig out the remaining three rows of dog food to allow
firefighters the ability to extinguish the remaining fire.
Southbound
lanes of I-95 were briefing shut down for about 25 minutes and then
periodically closed to allow the backhoe to move the unloaded dog
food. The highway was closed to one lane for nearly three hours,
causing traffic to back u[ for miles. No one was injured.
Engine 26, Tanker 1, Tanker 5 and Tanker 26, Medic 27, Battalion 1, Truck 12, and Truck 116 responded. Battalion Chief Rich Ellis served as Incident Commander.
