Truck Fires
 

I bring this up because we have had 3 truck fires in the last week here in VA near the 133. The first was from a brake problem. Never heard about the 2nd. Today was the worst of the 3, thankfully all 3 drivers got out safely. I witness today's and must say that it put a definite scare in me at how fast it went up. The only thing left was the Cat engine still showing it's bright yellow and frame. Somehow the trailer only managed to be seriously sorched thru out. Appears he had an electrical problem that caused the fire.

The one thing I noticed with all three was that the drivers did not attempt to unhitch the trailer and get the truck away. Maybe the first 2 didn't have time but I was taught that if need be and the fire permits, unlock the jaws and drive out from under the trailer, forget even trying to lower the landing gear. Get out from under it as fast as possible and get the unit separated to save at least one of the 2. Companies would rather replace a landing gear than a whole trailer along with a truck if it's the truck on fire. If the trailer is on fire, replacing a trailer is better than replacing a truck with it and the landing gear won't matter anyways if the trailer is burning. I know the one today didn't have time, no sooner than the truck had stopped, it was completely engulfed.

Ya'll be careful out there.

Who the he!! would take that chance. Would there be something in the trailer worth saving. Like 300 boxes of toilet tissue. That is what insurance is for.

Let it burn. The only thing I'm going to save is my laptop, pictures of my kid and my cellphone.

The whole shebang can go up for all I care.

Weenie Roast anyone? :lol:

agree 100% i dont get paid enough to worry about there truck.

But if I'm carrying hazmat. I'll leave a PostIt on the windshield :lol:

But if I'm carrying hazmat. I'll leave a PostIt on the windshield :lol:

Burn baby burn,....I wouldn't even try to drive my own truck away,...assuming that it could still move while burning up.
Its why we all pay waaaaaaay too much insurance!!, might as well use it for a real incident.

Drove past a couple Truck fires myself lately. Both were in on Hwy.80 west Illinios, and not too far apart....for some odd reason.

You do not want to breathe any of that smoke. Most deadly smoke there is.

Back in 2004, while in business with my Sis & her hubby...we lost a 99 Century to fire. It was an electrical fire, that started with the starter shorting out. My brother-in-law had started the truck in preperation for heading out to load for California. The truck was fully engulfed, except for part of the headache rack and the drive tires, by the time the FD showed up. The FD took 3 minutes to arrive, from the time 911 was called (by a passing commuter). By the time the FD was pumping water on the headache rack and drive tires..it had been a total of about 9 minutes from the time the fire started. The commuter was sitting at a traffic signal, within line of sight of the truck lot, and saw the fire blow out from under the hood of the truck...called within seconds of the fire starting. My sister was standing on the back deck smoking a cig and drinking a cup of coffee, when she smelled the smoke....looked across the yard and saw the flames from the truck fire.....400 yards away.


Who's gonna take time to drop a trailer, when the friggin truck is on fire?

Not me...nope...Not Me.

We replaced that Century with a 2000 Pete 379...with the insurance settlement and a ton of luck.

No driver, the most deadly smoke there is is the smoke the companies blow up your ass to get you to sign on with them. Nothing burning in a truck or trailer could be any worse. :D

I haven't heard anything about Horton fan clutches in a long time. I think this means I'm old now.