“The hair on the back of your neck stands up a little bit,” Captain Elan Raber from Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Fire Station 18 reflected. Similar sentiments were shared among all the firefighters who responded to a “big rig,” or trailer-less semi-truck, blaze on the Golden State 5 freeway near the Balboa Boulevard exit on April 11, 2024.
For many firefighters, an explosion in Wilmington left a permanent impact on how firefighters respond to auto fires, especially when a big rig is involved. LAFD Firefighter Josh Sumner from Fire Station 91 and Captain Raber both had the incident on their minds that Thursday night in April.
But the moment of reflection was brief, and there was work to be done in the present. “It's a balance of moving with a purpose and accounting for safety at all times,” Firefighter Sumner emphasized.
Once on-scene, Captain Raber located the driver, an important step with any auto fire to confirm the type of fuel being used and better understand the circumstances leading up to the fire. Both crews had already begun to look for clues on the rig like company name, fuel tank design, and any labels or equipment that would assist in determining the best course of action.
“How you approach requires using all your senses,” Firefighter Sumner added. He recalled listening in as he got closer to the rig and heard a hissing noise that alerted him to a potential hazard. Pops, crackles, and even smells can serve as indicators of a fire’s behavior.
Captain Raber shared lack of water sources as a unique obstacle for freeway fires, adding that the nearest fire hydrant is often off the nearest exit and not easily accessible. The LAFD called in Engines 91 and 18, each of which carry 500 gallons, to ensure that there was sufficient water to address the situation.
Moisture and humidity were also on the firefighters’ side as they faced down the flaming big rig. “Being able to put the fire out without catching the nearby brush can be an added challenge,” Captain Raber shared, noting that the region of the 5 freeway where the incident occurred has significant vegetation. In drier weather, the risk factors for a brush fire would have increased exponentially.
Thankfully, crews were able to snuff the blaze without further incident and with no injuries. “Once we got water on [the fire], it took about five minutes to put it out,” Captain Raber shared, adding that they used all the water from both engines – a total of 1,000 gallons, just enough.
After the incident, firefighters returned to the station to debrief the incident together. Each member on each engine had a unique role to play and different perspectives on the same incident. “It’s about making sure we do the basics well and gather situational awareness, looking for those potential markers or indicators that something could be different,” Firefighter Sumner shared, highlighting how fully engaged firefighters are when responding to any incident.
Click here for a unique look at the April 11 big rig fire, photographed by Donivon Maynard and Ismael Miranda. Feature photo by Donivon Maynard.
