Petroleum Tanker Fire in Los Angeles, California

Oct. 18, 2005
On Monday, October 17, 2005, at 1:53 am PDT, several companies and crews, under the direction of Assistant Chief Alfred Hernandez, responded to a pertroleum tanker fire on the North Bound 5 Freeway at the 134 Freeway near Griffith Park.

On Monday, October 17, 2005, at 1:53 am PDT, 19 companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 1 Deputy Chief, 1 Assistant Chief Officer Command Team, 6 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Battalion EMS Supervisor, 9 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Foam Tenders, 3 Water Tenders (Glendale, LA Fire, & Park Rangers), some additional LAFD support personnel, fire resources from Glendale Fire Department, and other state, county and local agencies under the direction of Assistant Chief Alfred Hernandez, responded to a pertroleum tanker fire on the North Bound 5 Freeway at the 134 Freeway near Griffith Park.

First units on the scene reported a petroleum fuel tank truck with a two axle tank trailer well involved with fire exposing trees and vegetation.

Firefighters using handlines with water and foam aggressively attacked the petroleum fire and the fire in the vegetation to mitigate an expanding incident.

Due to the location of the tanker fire on the freeway, firefighters quickly set up a water shuttle operation to ensure a continued supply of water and foam to extinguish the fire and abate the hazard.

The fire was extinguished in 36 minutes.

One fatality from the tanker vehicle was reported.

A Glendale Fire Department foam tender responding to the incident overturned on the freeway.

No injuries were reported.

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