In the early morning hours of Sunday, July 18, 2004 a group of kids took an unlikely vehicle for a joy ride.
The tanker truck was loaded with 2800 gallons of diesel fuel and was stolen from a Mine Reclamation Project in Coal Township, Northumberland County. The kids went riding on construction and mining roads plowing over trees as they went eventually stopping in a clearing on a slate bank near the village of Excelsior. At this time one of the individuals allegedly lit the truck on fire.
At 0410 hours, Northumberland County dispatched stations 110, 112, 140, 150, 190 bringing engines 111, 141, 151 rescue 193 squad 152 unit 112 ambulance 143 CTFD chiefs additional units also called to the scene were brush units 173, 22, tanker 354 Northumberland county EMA, and DEP.
Upon arrival, units found the truck well involved. Due to the fact that the truck was in an area that was very hard to access and that there were minimal exposures, the decision was made to let the truck burn out.
The companies and 37 personal remained on scene until 1023 hours.
The police took four individuals into custody and charged three of them. One 17-year-old juvenile was released, however the 20- and 21-year-old individuals were held on $75,000 and $100,000 bail.
