Fire engine burns in Indiana wildfire

Liberty brush truck burns
A firefighter with the Liberty Volunteer Fire Department watches as their brush truck burns. Photo credit, Liberty Volunteer Fire Department.

From Pal-Item:

A brush rig belonging to the Liberty Volunteer Fire Department in central Indiana burnd while fighting a vegetation fire near Indiana 101 South.

Firefighter Matt Reuss, who was driving the small truck said firefighters already had applied two tanks of water to the fire and were on their way for a third load when the wind shifted.

“The truck died in the bottom of the field,” Reuss said. “I got it started and was driving uphill when (farmer) Kevin Pinkerton yelled, ‘Your truck is on fire.’”

Firefighter Jeff Moles, who was a passenger in the truck, said fire and smoke quickly surrounded the truck.

“I couldn’t even see Matt,” Moles said.

Moles and Reuss escaped the vehicle without injury, but the truck is a total loss, Chief Jim Barnhizer said.

“It’s about as totaled as it can get,” Reuss said.

The fire likely was sucked into the engine compartment through the engine’s air breather, Barnhizer said

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

One thought on “Fire engine burns in Indiana wildfire”

  1. Glad the firefighters are safe; looks like this Indiana fire did not discriminate about what kind of vehicle it chose to burn?

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