Hot Wheels
The burning vehicle was north of the Pony Pens, and was the only vehicle involved. Luckily, the driver got out unharmed and no one was injured.
"It was burned up the point that we don't know what caused it," said Sandy Yeatts, who served as the OVFD incident commander. Six firefighters responded and Hyde County EMS was on the scene for back-up.
Sandy is one of three EMS employees who live on the island full-time, and he's also a volunteer first responder for the fire department and one of their training officers.
Sandy confirmed the rumor I'd heard about propane tanks in the back of the fiery truck, but said that they were small grill-sized tanks and the propane was already dispersed.
The fire was "already fully involved" when the firefighters arrived on the scene. "It was rolling pretty good," Sandy said.
He estimates they used about 500-600 gallons of water to knock down the blaze.
Believe it or not, the gas tank didn't explode. Apparently, we've all been bamboozled by Hollywood.
"In my sixteen years in fire service, I've never seen a car explode," Sandy said. "That's just TV." Who knew?
As Sandy explained, gas tanks don't normally explode because they have lines going out of them that allow the fuel to breathe – it would have to be completely contained and sealed to build up enough heat and pressure to blow. Gasoline burns quickly, but doesn't ka-pow. Tires explode, though (all the tires had popped on this particular vehicle), and the gas shocks that hold up hoods and hatchbacks can also explode and turn themselves into projectiles shooting right through the metal. Yikes! It's best to approach a raging car fire from a 45 degree angle.
Sandy reported that some helpful motorists had pulled over to assist the driver of the burning vehicle. They also stopped traffic and made room for the firefighters. Thanks, people!
Who doesn't love the volunteer fire department? These men and women are willing to run into a burning building to save your hide, and nobody pays them to do it!
OVFD members don't just fight fires; they are called out every time there's a life flight call and they respond to all car accidents. They maintain the building, trucks and equipment, and go through hours and hours of rigorous training. Thanks, OVFD!
Stay tuned to the Current for information about their annual Open House for National Fire Prevention Week.
