12/17/10 – “A” Shift – Truck Fire

Incident # 10-06774 – Stations 17, 19, 26, and 27 responded to a tractor trailer fire on I-95 at the 64 mile marker southbound Friday morning 17-December. Multiple 9-1-1 calls reported the well involved truck fire. Lieutenant Campbell in Car 119 arrived to find heavy fire conditions at the rear of the truck and in the loaded trailer. He requested additional units for tenders for water supply and manpower. One southbound lane was closed to allow firefighters to safely work around the burning the truck and trailer. Two 1-3/4 handlines were deployed from Engine 26. The fire originated in the rear wheels of the chassis, setting the tires ablaze. It then spread to the wooden floor of the trailer, burning through the floor to products inside. The truck was hauling a load of plastic pellets stacked on pallets. Firefighters used hand tools to remove portions of the walls and floor to extinguish the fire on the trailer. A second crew entered the trailer, using an 1-3/4 handline to extinguish the burning products inside the trailer. The rear of the cab and front of the trailer both suffered heavy damage. Units were on the scene for over 1-1/2 hours. Traffic backed up several miles until both lanes could be reopened.

Engine 26, Tender 17, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 26, Car 12 and Car 119 responded. Lieutenant Joseph Campbell served as Incident Commander.