A tractor-trailer unit was destroyed by fire on Thursday, Dec. 17. At 4:47 a.m., county firefighters from Stillmore, Swainsboro Engine 200 and Twin City Engine 202 were sent to Highway 57 South in the vicinity of Martin Road for a truck fire.
On arrival, they found a 2016 Volvo tractor engulfed in fire, and heavy smoke coming from a 45-foot refrigerated container trailer. Due to the volume of fire, an additional Engine 6 was requested from Swainsboro to begin shuttling water from Stillmore. 1.75” attack lines were stretched from both Engine 200 and 202. Due to the construction of the container walls, a special penetrating nozzle was used to fight the fire inside the container.
The driver of the rig stated he first saw fire coming from the front of the Thermo King refrigeration unit, and when he stopped, it spread quickly to the tractor. He said he picked up the cargo of frozen chicken parts in Gainesville and was headed to the Port at Savannah to be shipped overseas. The intense heat melted the aluminum wheels and fuel tanks causing diesel fuel to spill on the ground and roadway. The roadway was damaged by the heat and aluminum parts that melted into the roadway. GDOT is evaluating the extent of damage to the road surface. Deputies from Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office assisted firefighters and handled traffic on the busy travelled roadway until GDOT was able to set up a pilot-guided flow of traffic. Units were on scene for almost five hours before the roadway was opened in both directions.
