Iowa Crew Has Close Call When Trailer Hits Engine

WATERLOO, Iowa -- Firefighters escaped injury when a trailer struck their truck while they were handling a car fire on Highway 20 Monday morning.

Engine No. 306, a dual pumper and rescue truck, was parked on the highway near the Ansborough Avenue interchange with its lights flashing, when it was struck by a livestock trailer being pulled by a pickup truck at about 5 a.m., said Battalion Chief Mike Junk.

Junk said the timing was fortunate. A few minutes later, and the engine driver would have been standing in the pickup's path as he entered the engine, he said.

As it happened, the crew was walking back to the engine when they heard the impact, which left a significant dent in the engine's read driver side and sheered a fender and wheel from the livestock trailer, he said.

"Debris actually flew over their heads," said Pat Treloar, chief of fire services. He said the firefighters ran for the ditch.

Treloar said the crash should serve as a reminder that passing motorists need use caution when they come upon an emergency scene on the roadway.

"If you see emergency lights, slow down and move over," Treloar said.

The car that was the original reason for the call was pulled over to the right shoulder, its engine had failed, but the fire had died out on its own.

Engine No. 306 was parked to the rear of the car with its "butt end" out block the right lane, which is how firefighters are trained to park, Treloar said.

"Our philosophy is that we try to block the lane of traffic nearest to the scene," he said. He said the engine acts as a barrier to protect the crews and people they are helping from passing traffic.

"It did its job perfectly," Treloar said.

Also as a matter of procedure, the engine was parked at an angle to deflect the impact, Treloar said.

He said the engine was also lit with emergency lights and a lighted directional arrow.

After the crash, police put up cones and flares as an additional precaution, but traffic still zipped past the speed limit, Treloar said.

Engine No. 306 suffered significant damage, and firefighters had to remove loose damaged parts, including the tail board at the scene. Officials were able to drive it to the downtown station, but it will be taken out of service for repairs.

Treloar said another fire engine is taking its place, and all stations remain open.

Copyright 2012 - Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

McClatchy-Tribune News Service