SANTA ANA, Calif. — Eight firefighters were injured Thursday in a severe highway crash involving a fire truck in Southern California, authorities said.
Chief Brian Fennessy of the Orange County Fire Authority said the truck overturned on the California State Route 241 just north of Portola Hills.
The vehicle was transporting a ground crew after a 12-hour shift fighting a massive wildfire in Orange County called the Airport Fire. A ladder in the road caused the truck to swerve, strike a guard rail and overturn, Fennessy said.
At least one firefighter was flown by helicopter with others transported by ambulance to hospitals.
“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.”
Eight Southern California firefighters were injured in a highway crash on Tuesday afternoon while responding to a brush fire in the area. The accident occurred on the 405 Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass, near the Getty Center.
According to reports, the firefighters were traveling in a fire engine when they were rear-ended by a semi-truck. The impact of the crash caused the fire engine to overturn, trapping several firefighters inside. Emergency crews quickly arrived on the scene to extricate the injured firefighters from the wreckage.
All eight firefighters were transported to local hospitals with varying degrees of injuries. Fortunately, none of the injuries were life-threatening, but some of the firefighters did suffer serious injuries. The driver of the semi-truck was also injured in the crash and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but initial reports suggest that the semi-truck may have been traveling at a high rate of speed and failed to slow down in time to avoid colliding with the fire engine. The California Highway Patrol is working to determine the exact circumstances that led to the crash.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that first responders face every day while on duty. Firefighters put their lives on the line to protect their communities, and accidents like this one highlight the risks they take in the line of duty.
The firefighting community in Southern California is rallying around the injured firefighters, offering support and well-wishes for their speedy recovery. Fire departments from neighboring cities have offered assistance to cover shifts and ensure that there is no lapse in emergency response services.
As we await further details on the investigation into the crash, it is important to keep the injured firefighters and their families in our thoughts and prayers. Their bravery and dedication to serving their communities are truly commendable, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their selfless service.
