Firefighters battle brush fire/tractor trailer accident on High Fire Warning Day

April 23, 2007

Firefighters from Southborough and Westborough responded to an incident involving a tractor trailer, low hanging wires, and a brush fire on Route 9 Eastbound at the Southborough/Westborough Town Line shortly after 3:00 PM on April 23.

The tractor trailer was exiting Rt. 495 northbound to Route 9 eastbound. At the end of the ramp, the box of the trailer caught a low-hanging wire, which caused a utility pole to snap, the three 13,800 volt lines arc causing a brush fire, as well as the wires to come down on a pick-up truck following the tractor trailer. The driver of the pick-up truck was trapped for several minutes until National Grid confirmed that the electric lines were deenergized.

Route 9 eastbound was completely closed as the tractor trailer, which lost its entire roof, blocked all three lanes of travel. The ramp was also closed as utility wires from National Grid, Verizon and Charter were down, some involved in the brush fire.

No injuries were reported; however the fire could not be fought for nearly 30 minutes until we could confirm the lines were deenergized.

Firefighters from Southborough and Westborough attacked the nearly 1/2 acre fire once the power was shut off.

Route 9 Eastbound was closed for nearly 2 hours while the accident was cleared.

Smoke from the brush fire crosses Route 9 while the crew of Engine 22 stretches a hose line. (Linda Hubley photo)

Lt./EMT-P Chris Dano extinguishes the brush fire on the left flank as the wind pushed it eastward towards EMC. (Linda Hubley photo)

FF/EMT-P Ken Strong runs Engine 22's pump as Lt./EMT-P Dano advances the hose line. (Linda Hubley photo)

The driver of the pick-up in the center of the picture is trapped as it is draped in down utility wires. The driver could not exit until it was confirmed that the power was deenergized.

Smoke from the brush fire caused by the 13,800 volt wires arcing can be seen billowing across Route 9.

Fire and Police personnel from Southborough and Westborough stand by until National Grid arrived and declared the electrical lines deenergized. (Linda Hubley photo)

Captain/EMT Joseph Mauro checks the advance of the brush fire while awaiting the arrival of National Grid (Linda Hubley photo)

Firefighter/EMT-P Peter J. Phaneuf extinguishes the brush fire once the power lines were declared deenergized. (Linda Hubley photo)

FF/EMT-P Chris Shanahan advances a line from the south side. (Linda Hubley photo)

FF Chris Knight from Westborough Fire, and Captain/EMT Mauro from Southborough attack the fire from the right flank. (Linda Hubley photo)

The damage caused when the roof was peeled off due to the low-hanging wire. The crumpled metal is the roof of the trailer and the rear doors. Note the damage to the utility wire. (Linda Hubley photo)

A utility pole carrying the wires snapped in half, and a new replacement that was next to it was knocked down. (Linda Hubley photo)