In this incident, on November 29, 2021, a truck and trailer carrying a full load of ice cream caught fire and burnt up. The boxes of ice cream and the melted ice cream ended up all over the road.
The tires of the truck and trailer were also wholly burnt off, and debris and burned pieces got into a nearby storm drain. This accident recovery required extensive cleanup, and Team Pro-Enviro was ready to work on it!
We gathered the necessary equipment, including a bobcat, and headed for the scene. Once there, we did a scene assessment before working on the trailer fire cleanup.
Fire Cleanup and Road Restoration
Our team used the Bobcat to clean up the scene, starting with sweeping the debris. We worked diligently to clear away any pieces that could cause an accident.
Next, our team cleared the melted ice cream mess and moved on to a nearby storm drain that also needed cleaning. Unfortunately, some debris and melted ice cream seeped in and needed remediating quickly. While our team worked on the storm drain and trailer fire cleanup, Team Pro-Tow rigged up the burned truck and trailer and lifted it onto a flatbed for transport.
How to Prevent a Trailer Fire
Even a truck carrying chilly ice cream can catch fire, but prevention is key. Truck fires can happen for a few different reasons. For example, fuel lines rubbing or failing result in fuel leaks onto the exhaust that can spark a fire. Tires with poor inflation that rub against hard surfaces can catch fire. Wheel bearing failures can lead to the bearing grease catching fire or the brakes overheating.
Pre- and post-trip checks will catch these issues before they cause any problems while en route. These inspections can keep your drivers and fleet vehicles safe and save you the cost of needing to call for accident recovery.
For more information on Pro-Enviro’s spill response services and to see photos of us in action, check out the other stories on our recovery blog.
