A horrific crash between two tractor-trailer trucks kept firefighters busy for several hours. At 9:40 P.M., firefighters from the Mendota Heights Fire Department were alerted for an accident with injuries on Interstate 494 near Robert Street in Sunfish Lake. Additional callers reported two tractor-trailers were involved and a possible explosion. The Inver Grove Heights Fire Department was also dispatched because the location was on the border of the two districts.
Mendota Heights Chief John Mackzo arrived within three minutes of dispatch and found two tractor trailers - a moving truck and a flatbed - collided head-on in the eastbound lanes just past the Robert Street exit. The moving truck, filled with office furniture, was well-involved with fire. The westbound truck was hauling rebar and the driver suffered a medical condition causing his rig to cross the median. "The impact of the crash caused the cab of the westbound truck to be removed," Mackzo said. "It was broken loose and free from the rig." The driver was ejected clear of the scene. The cab of the eastbound rig was also moved at least 10 feet from the original location on the chassis.
The initial assignment from Mendota Heights was Engine 10 and Tender 10. Upon arrival, the crew from Engine 10 stretched a 2½-inch hoseline to knock down the fire in the moving truck. "We tried to get water on it quickly and see what we could do," Mackzo said. The fire condition was so heavy that firefighters were unable to access the tractor area. Units from Inver Grove Heights included Engines 11 and 34 and Tenders 14 and 15. As additional crews arrived on scene, Mendota Heights firefighters operated a 1½-inch hoseline and Inver Grove Heights units operated two 1½-inch hoselines to knock down the fire and assist with overhaul. About 50 gallons of foam was applied to the moving truck and fuel that spilled from the rigs. A trail of burning fuel went about 100 feet from the scene and slowly burned itself out. Temperatures were just above zero, so water was freezing almost immediately.
An engine from Inver Grove Heights set up a tender fill site a half-mile east of the scene and filled each tender twice. It is estimated that close to 10,000 gallons of water was used to control the fire and during the overhaul, which took several hours. Rescue trucks from both departments were called to the scene to set up a relief area for the 25 firefighters on scene. The Minnesota Department of Traffic was on scene almost immediately with dump trucks filled with sand and with sign boards to notify motorists of the lane closures.
Peter Matthews
