Pasco County Fire Rescue Station 27 personnel, standing in front of their station in San Antonio, heard an explosion and saw a large column from the front of their station at 1417 hours on February 5, 2004. Capt. John Himmel, expecting the worst, called for a full structure assignment as he responded toward the column.
Less than a mile from the station, Engine 27 found a semi tanker, loaded with an undetermined flammable liquid, engulfed in flames. A Waste Management truck had collided with the semi, but was not involved in the fire.
Flames were spreading toward a subdivision and affecting high power utility lines immediately above the engulfed tanker. Sheriff
