Semi Trucks

If there could be a convenient place for a vehicle to catch on fire, Erik Goetz’s Dodge Ram might have found.

The truck was half a block from the Antietam Fire Co. when Goetz noticed smoke coming from under the hood, while he was stopped at a red light on West Antietam Street at the Summit Avenue intersection.

Goetz, 34, of Hagerstown, got out of the truck and took his 3 1/2-year-old son, Heath, into the Washington County Community Action Council building to call 911. That’s when he saw flames start to shoot out of the hood, he said.

Antietam Fire Co. trucks had the fire out within minutes. Firefighter Glenn Fuscsick said an engine malfunction was the most likely cause.

The truck had been acting up all day, “bucking” as he drove and emitting a gas smell.

Expecting construction of more multistory buildings, the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District has worked out a deal to bring an aerial ladder truck from Santa Cruz on initial fire response when needed.

The Scotts Valley district’s 27-year-old Van Pelt Telesquirt has only a 55-foot ladder, too short for use above three stories.

It would cost more than $600,000 to replace it with a 100-foot-ladder truck, fire Chief Mike McMurry reported to district directors, and the truck wouldn’t be needed very often.

As an alternative, directors agreed on an arrangement under, which Santa Cruz will provide a ladder truck in exchange for Scotts Valley responding to Santa Cruz wildland fires with a wildland engine and water tender.

A Truck driver rescued two children and a woman after a car crash that killed the children’s mother, aunt and nephew near Keetmanshoop on Saturday.

The trucker dragged the three from the wreck just before it burst into flames. He had been driving behind their bakkie, which overturned after a tyre burst. Phil Stephanus (8) and Elma Swartbooi are recovering in hospital, while Philin Stephanus (13) was discharged after receiving treatment for shock and a leg injury.

The driver and mother of the children, Warrant Officer Katrina Stephanus (38), their aunt, Molly Magdalena Matroos (34), and nephew, Maquin Matroos (8), were killed when the bakkie left the road and overturned. The accident happened in the early hours about 66 kilometres north of Keetmanshoop on the B1 road.

At 0641 hours, Truck 1 was alerted for a reported house on fire, at 8112 19Th Place, in Co. 34’s first due. Truck 1 responded as the first due truck with three personnel. Company 34 went on the scene and reported a one story wood frame with heavy fire showing.

Truck 1’s crew entered and assisted the engine company with advancing the line and opening up. The Truck crew also threw ground ladders, and secured the utilities. Truck 1 cleared shortly before 0900 hours.