MARCH 3, 2015
QUINCY, MASS. (WHDH)
It was an explosive emergency involving a Boston EMS SUV in
Quincy Tuesday morning.
The SUV caught fire and as crews tried to put it out oxygen tanks inside exploded and left two Quincy firefighters hurt, they're recovering at home after the dangerous situation.
When Quincy firefighters got on scene they found flames and thick black smoke pouring from the truck, already a dangerous situation made more so because of what was stored inside.
“This one was a bad one because it was loaded with oxygen tanks,” Quincy Firefighter Paul Campbell said.
It was morning rush hour on Route 93 north, the Boston EMS supervisor behind the wheel lost his brakes and ditched the SUV up on the snow bank.
The department said the engine caught on fire.
“While they were extinguishing the fire an oxygen tank inside the back exploded and caused a fuel tank to burst at the same time and caused a spectacular fire,” Deputy Quincy Fire Chief Paul Griffith said.
When the car exploded firefighters got hit with shrapnel, including a large chunk that came flying off the SUV and hit one of the firefighters in the head.
“One of the guys a big piece of the ox tank went right by his head and that would been a serious accident and so he really got lucky,” Campbell said.
Two of the firefighters suffered concussions. Their fellow firefighters are just thankful they're back home and recovering.
The Boston EMS supervisor who was driving the SUV was not hurt.
The SUV caught fire and as crews tried to put it out oxygen tanks inside exploded and left two Quincy firefighters hurt, they're recovering at home after the dangerous situation.
When Quincy firefighters got on scene they found flames and thick black smoke pouring from the truck, already a dangerous situation made more so because of what was stored inside.
“This one was a bad one because it was loaded with oxygen tanks,” Quincy Firefighter Paul Campbell said.
It was morning rush hour on Route 93 north, the Boston EMS supervisor behind the wheel lost his brakes and ditched the SUV up on the snow bank.
The department said the engine caught on fire.
“While they were extinguishing the fire an oxygen tank inside the back exploded and caused a fuel tank to burst at the same time and caused a spectacular fire,” Deputy Quincy Fire Chief Paul Griffith said.
When the car exploded firefighters got hit with shrapnel, including a large chunk that came flying off the SUV and hit one of the firefighters in the head.
“One of the guys a big piece of the ox tank went right by his head and that would been a serious accident and so he really got lucky,” Campbell said.
Two of the firefighters suffered concussions. Their fellow firefighters are just thankful they're back home and recovering.
The Boston EMS supervisor who was driving the SUV was not hurt.