A forklift fire that broke out at a Tampa salvage yard yesterday resulted in about 20 cars damaged and one individual hospitalized with serious burn injuries, as confirmed by Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR). The incident, which swiftly escalated to a two-alarm fire, prompted multiple 911 calls after flames spread to the surrounding vehicles.
FOX13 News reported that fire crews managed to bring the heavy smoke and flames under control in under an hour, despite dealing with a water supply issues initially. In a development that further complicated the firefighting efforts, lightning in the area forced a temporary halt to operations involving two aerial trucks.
In a press release cited by WTSP, HCFR indicated that once a continuous water flow was established, the aerial trucks could successfully be deployed to suppress the fire from above. The blaze was largely under control about an hour into the operations, and by 5:10 p.m., it was declared extinguished, with no injuries reported among the first responders.
Adding to the accounts, ABC Action News stated that firefighters remained on site, utilizing foam to put out any remaining hot spots. The cause of the fire is still unknown at this time, and HCFR's investigation into the matter is ongoing.
As details continue to surface, the community is reminded of the inherent risks present even in places of seeming dormancy.
