05/06/10 Interstate Tractor And Trailer Fire
At approximately 0430 hours on May 6th Company 4 was dispatched to a vehicle accident on Interstate 85 at the 63 mile marker. While en route an update changed the location to the 59 mm and the vehicle was on fire. Upon arrival Engine 4 discovered that some details of the call had not been made evident. The incident involved a tractor and trailer fully involved, 300 gallons of diesel fuel spilled over about 150 yards through both lanes of the interstate, fire extending to the tops of the trees above, and a load of burlap rolls that would smolder and burn for several hours to come. This was definitely not a typical dispatch to a vehicle accident. Immediately a call went for more water (Tanker 1) and Brush 4 to combat the fire now extending to the southbound lanes. To further complicate matters, getting to the seen was exceptionally difficult due to “creative” parking of vehicles caught in the several mile backup.