Firefighter Jonathan Mustin of DeSoto Fire District #8 was driving the pumper from the department's Pelican Station to Central Station in Mansfield for maintenance work, said Chief David Manning, when an oncoming vehicle approached on or near the center line. When Mustin moved to the right, a tire went off the road and he lost control of the vehicle.
"It rolled over, the diesel fuel spilled out and got to the engine and caught on fire," the chief said. However, Mustin was able to crawl out of the burning wreckage on his own and report the accident. His colleagues responded.
"It's emotionally intense until you get there and see that he's ok," the chief said. He said Mustin suffered only some aches and pains, and was treated and released from DeSoto Regional Health System. Manning said the department is just glad no one was hurt.
The vehicle, worth about $160,000 was a total loss, the chief said. The station has a back up vehicle and insurance for the wrecked pumper.
Manning said the combination paid/volunteer DeSoto Fire District serves an area of 436 square miles and operates out of eight stations.
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