Wheat field fire destroys Haldimand’s fire trucks

[projekktor id=’24904′]

The Haldimand county fire department is down two fire trucks, after they were engulfed by flames during a massive fire near Hagersville Friday.

“We were fighting a fire in a large wheat field several hundred acres, extremely hot dry conditions…the fire spread very rapidly.”

So rapidly, that Haldimand county firefighters could only move 5 of their 7 fire trucks.

“When the heat under the trucks got significant, it melted the brake lines engaging the air brakes rendering the trucks unable to drive.”

3 rescue trucks are currently being built in Brampton for Haldimand county, but they won’t be ready until November. Other fire departments have offered to lend Haldimand county a tanker and a pumper until the 2 get replaced. While the wall of fire burned acres of wheat field and nearby trees, firefighters managed to save Clark poultry’s chicken operation.

“This fire came right up against millions of dollars of agricultural structures, their efforts saved several structures millions and millions of dollars.”

One firefighter suffered minor burns escaping the burning truck and one was hospitalized with a back injury, a few others were treated for heat exhaustion at the scene.