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Photos and story by Bob Bartosz, Nash County (NC) Fire Photographer
On December 5, 2017, the Nash County (NC) 911 Center received calls for a tractor trailer fire on I-95 South Bound at mile maker 130. Fire departments from Station 4, West Mount, and Station 15, Coopers, were dispatched. Radio update to responding companies indicated that the tractor trailer was fully involved and flying embers from the fire had set numerous brush fires along the I-95 highway. Brush trucks from Stations 4 and 15, Station 12, Red Oak, and Station 11, Sharpsburg, along with units from the State Forestry Service were dispatched. The first in units at the tractor trailer fire reported that they had a heavily involved fire and requested additional tankers from Station 4, Nashville, and a cascade system from Wilson County Station 9, Silver Lake.
Firefighters went into service with 2 inch and two 1 3/4-inch water lines using foam for their initial attack. The truck driver had released the front cab from the blazing trailer before fire units arrived. North Carolina State Highway Patrol along with Nash County Sheriffs Department were able to shut down the southbound lane lanes of I-95.
It took firefighters almost one hour to control the fire. They remained on the scene into the a.m. hours, overhauling hot spots and helping to remove the debris from the highway.
Fire officials reported that the fire had started from the trucks brakes and that sparks and embers had started numerous brush fires along the highway.
The trailer was loaded with 35,000 pounds of frozen dinosaur chicken nuggets boxes the nuggets were shaped like little dinosaurs. The truck was on its way to Disney World in Florida.
Firefighters were faced with thousands of small dinosaurs all over the highway.
“All the dinosaurs were destroyed in the blaze, but no humans were injured,” said Johnny Baines, chief of the West Mount Fire Department.
Nash County EMS units were on the scene and there were no reported of any injuries.
A total of four tankers, two pumpers, three brush trucks, Forestry Service units and 40 firefighters were placed into service fighting the fires.
