Mass casualty event declared as fire truck rolls over on California highway
Eight firefighters returning home after combatting a huge wildfire were rushed to hospital Thursday night after their vehicle overturned on a highway in Southern California.
Eight firefighters returning home after combatting a huge wildfire were rushed to hospital Thursday night after their vehicle overturned on a highway in Southern California.
Officials said six firefighters suffered major injuries, while the two others had minor injuries, when their truck struck a guard rail and overturned on the California State Route 241 just north of Portola Hills.
The vehicle was transporting a ground crew of firefighters after a 12-hour shift fighting a massive wildfire in Orange County called the Airport Fire.
Chief Brian Fennessy of the Orange County Fire Authority said that a ladder in the road caused the truck to swerve and strike a guard rail before tumbling and rolling over another 50 to 100 feet.
At least one firefighter was flown by helicopter with others transported by ambulance to four different local hospitals.
Eight firefighters returning home after combatting a huge wildfire were rushed to hospital Thursday night after their vehicle overturned on a highway in Southern California
The truck reportedly struck a guard rail and overturned on the California State Route 241 just north of Portola Hills
Chief Brian Fennessy of the Orange County Fire Authority said that a ladder in the road caused the truck to swerve
All of our crews that were involved are going through a formal critical incident stress debriefing at our headquarters right now, Fennessy said. You can only imagine how traumatic it is for their brother and sister firefighter to see them injured like that on the freeway.
Aerial footage of the incident show a completely demolished fire engine on its side with debris dispersed across the highway, as well as a beaten-up metal ladder tossed across the road.
The crash happened near the Tomato Springs Toll Plaza in the Irvine area shortly before 7 p.m.
According to the LA Times, both directions of the freeway were temporarily closed to allow helicopters to land and evacuate the injured crew of firefighters.
The location of the crash is west of the massive ongoing Airport Fire, which has burned more than 23,000 acres over the past week.
Image shows the guard rail the fire truck hit before overturning
Aerial footage of the incident show a completely demolished fire engine on its side with debris dispersed across the highway
No other vehicles were reportedly involved in the crash.
Taking to X, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said: These hand crew firefighters are tough, true public servants. They worked so hard to save lives and property for us. Now we must help save them. The accident tonight is too tragic.
She also urged people to keep the injured fire crew in their prayers.
This comes as several blazing wildfires have been tearing through parts of California, with apocalyptic scenes playing out as flames burn homes in south Orange County and Riverside County.
