Trending Topics

8 Calif. firefighters injured in rollover while returning from wildfire

The Orange County Fire Authority vehicle swerved to avoid a ladder on the road, struck the guardrail on the right shoulder and flipped over

Associated Press

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.”

Trending
The North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company will revise policies for handling minors and require sensitivity training after Chief Peter Alt was filmed cursing at a youth during a call
Funding from State Farm and the National Volunteer Fire Council will let Waterford’s volunteer firefighters buy new equipment
After participating in forcible entry training the prior evening, Northwood Fire Rescue Capt. Christopher Brown was transported to a local hospital
Vine Grove FD lost an antique engine, a 3,000-gallon tanker and extensive supplies in the Hardin County blaze