Truck fire causes tense moments for fire departments
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A semi-truck carrying cooking oil caught fire Thursday evening. Flames were reported coming from the vehicle as coming from the west on Rt. 106. The truck turned right at the intersection of Il. Rt. 106 and U.S. Highway 54. The truck driver was unaware of the fire at the right rear of his trailer. He continued down U.S. 54, dropping flaming pieces of tire and trailer until he stopped at the Martin John Deere dealership south of Summer Hill. (Beth Zumwalt/River County News)
By BETH ZUMWALT
Pike County 9-1-1 dispatch began getting several calls about 9 p.m. Thursday, June 25 about a truck traveling south-west on Highway 106 and then on U.S. Route 54 heading to Missouri.
A deputy was sent to investigate and the Pittsfield Fire Department dispatched.
“We found burning debris on the highway and roadsides starting at the intersection of 54/106,” Jason White, Pittsfield Fire Chief, said. “We put one crew to putting out the spot fires and went on to find the truck-trailer. There were some fires on 106 ,but, most of them were on 54.”
White said the driver pulled in at the John Deere Dealership, just outside of Summer Hill, leaving several pieces of burning parts and burning tires scattered along the highway. Residents of Summer Hill reported hearing loud boom and believe it to be a tire blowing off the trailer. Others said they looked out and saw the fires and thought there had been a problem and there were flares in the road.
White said as soon as the Pittsfield Fire Department pulled into the scene, the truck’s left fuel tank blew.
“That really got our attention,” he said. “The driver was out of the truck, but, didn’t know what he was carrying. We were able to get into the cab and get his bill of lading which showed it was palm oil, commonly used in cooking. We had a state trooper on the scene who was able to determine it was not a hazmat situation.”
White said they effort was able to keep the fire out of the cab for the most part, but, the back of the bunk area was burnt.
The driver was uninjured and injuries were reported from those fighting the fire.
White said since Pike County Dispatch didn’t know where the truck would be pulled over, they also dispatched Spring Creek/Pleasant Hill Fire Department, who also responded to the scene.
White said both departments used water and foam to extinguish the fire and contain it to the truck. No farm machinery suffered damages during the fire.
Firefighters were on the scene for over an hour.
