A firefighter from the Waynesville Rural Fire Protection District was injured Monday after the rescue truck he was driving suffered a tire blowout.

 

The rig was returning from a call on I-44 around 11:20 a.m. when the right front tire suffered a blow out.

 

It forced the fire apparatus to leave the roadway and go up an embankment. The rig struck an exit sign before it slowed to a stop on the shoulder.

 

Fire officials said the impact of the exit sign caused extensive damage to the can, including shattering the window.

 

The department said the driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Two other firefighters on the heavy rescue were uninjured.

 

Based on the initial survey, Waynesville fire officials said the rig will likely be a total loss.