Early Morning Semi Fire

Lakeside:  Lakeside firefighters were dispatched early on the morning of April 17, 2010, to a large vehicle fire which was reported by vehicles passing the fire on Hwy 67.


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While enroute, firefighters were able to see from a heavy column of black smoke coming from the area of the Signs Trucking yard.  Lakeside Engine 1 (Riverview fire station) was the first to arrive finding a well- involved Semi Truck with heavy smoke and fire coming from the engine compartment of the vehicle.

Firefighter Sean McKenna "mops up" after the fire has been contained

Firefighters initiated a rapid attack and were able to prevent the fire from burning into the fuel tanks and the rear of the vehicle.  Quickly following Engine 1 was Lakeside Engine 2 (Eucalyptus Hills fire station) who aided in the fire attack.  Battalion 1 (Kirkpatrick) arrived on scene at approximately the same time and assumed command of the incident.  Water Tender 3 from the Lake Jennings station was also dispatched but cancelled once it was determine the fire was going to be able to be extinguished with the 1000 gallons of water carried on Engines 1 and 2.

The truck was the first in a line of several other vehicles

The Semi was the first in a line of seven parked trucks. One of the main tactical objectives in fire suppression is preventing the spread of fire to uninvolved exposures (in this case, the other semis).  The rapid response and quick work of the responding firefighters prevented this from becoming a much larger incident.  No injuries occurred as a result of the fire and the cause is currently under investigation.

Photos by:  Captain John Hisaw, Lakeside Fire District

Story by: Engineer Bernie Molloy, Lakeside Fire District