Hot Shots 12/23

Memphis, Nov. 4
A passenger vehicle collided with a gasoline tanker truck that was leaving the Valero Memphis Refinery terminal after it went through the process of being loaded with fuel. The passenger vehicle struck the underneath of the gasoline tanker truck, and the collision that resulted created an ignition source, which ignited the gasoline tanker truck. A total of 15 Memphis Fire Department apparatus, 11 chiefs, 3 ambulances and 2 EMS supervisors responded to the incident. One civilian was transported to the hospital.
Photo by Raymond Chiozza

Bethlehem Township, PA, Oct. 9
Police officers on patrol reported a well-involved, two-story, single-family dwelling with heavy fire from the back of the house coming through the roof. The initial crews of the Nancy Run Fire Company (NRFC) and the Palmer Municipal Fire Department forced entry and made an aggressive offensive fire attack on the heavily involved interior of the structure. The fire was reported under control 44 minutes after the initial crews arrived. One NRFC member was treated at the hospital for second-degree burns and released.
Photo by Thomas A. Kohler

Riverside County, CA, July 14
A CAL FIRE Pilot Rock hand crew battles the Rabbit Fire. The crew is burning out a piece of unburned vegetation to assist in containment. Accessing some areas was difficult because of rough terrain. Extreme heat and low humidity added to crews’ challenge. The Rabbit Fire was the largest of four brush fires that broke out in the area in the same time frame. Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for civilians in the area. A total of 8,283 acres were burned. The fire was active for eight days.
Photo by William Thost

New Orleans, Sept. 17
Firefighters arrived to find several apartments of a vacant apartment building fully involved with heavy black smoke. Members were forced to go defensive because of the condition of the building. The response ultimately went to three alarms. Nineteen apparatus and 68 firefighters were on scene of the fire building, which was in an abandoned apartment building complex that has been in multiple litigations for blight and where the department previously responded to numerous small fires, mostly as a result of vagrant living.
Photo by Chris E. Mickal