YORK, Pennsylvania — Seven firefighters were injured when two tanker trucks collided while battling a large fire in York, Pennsylvania, authorities said.
Officials said the crash occurred shortly before 11 p.m. Friday in Spring Garden Township, about a quarter-mile from the city’s large warehouse fire.
The York New Salem Volunteer Fire Company reported in a post on its Facebook page that five members suffered injuries ranging from “some minor bumps and bruises to some that were a little more serious” — but none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Fire Chief David Rittenhouse of Laurel Fire Company No. 1 in Windsor said both firefighters who worked on the tanker were taken to WellSpan York Hospital for evaluation but were released by 1 a.m. Saturday.
“It’s been a very long night,” the New Salem company said in a statement. “At this time, all we know is that there was an accident involving a couple of fire engines. We ask that everyone keep all those involved from our station and the two members of the Laurel Fire Co. in your thoughts and prayers.”
The York Daily Record reported that the two tankers were reportedly transporting water between a filling location and the warehouse fire, which was reported shortly after 6:30 p.m. Friday. The tankers were idling in the westbound lanes of Mount Rose Avenue with large-diameter hoses and broken glass strewn across the intersection, the newspaper reported.
Chief William Sleeger of the City of York Fire Department told the York Shipping that crews were still working early Saturday morning to extinguish fires in the warehouse, which was about two and a half blocks long and served as a distribution center.
“This building was … added in parts,” Sleeger said. “Those are problems when you have to deal with those kinds of constructions.”
He said the building was a total loss, despite the efforts of 19 fire departments. The cause of the fire was being investigated.