A Los Angeles Fire Department engine flipped onto its side in Sunland on Tuesday evening, injuring two firefighters and crushing a parked car outside a storefront as crews raced to a reported structure fire.
The crash was reported around 6:45 p.m. in the 10500 block of North McVine Avenue, just south of Foothill Boulevard, according to the department. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment, while no other injuries were reported. Investigators have not yet said what caused the overturn, and LAFD will not release the firefighters' names until their families are notified, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.
Roadside risks for responding crews
Crashes and rollovers during emergency responses are a known hazard for fire crews, especially on tight residential streets or in heavy traffic with lights and sirens engaged. Federal fire-safety guidance stresses driver training, strict use of occupant restraints, and clear traffic-control procedures to cut down on these incidents and protect personnel working on roadway scenes, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
What aerial footage shows
AIR7 video captured the aftermath: the engine lying on its side near an H&R Block office and partially on top of a heavily damaged car, while firefighters and tow crews worked to stabilize and clear the wreckage. The crash happened while the crew was responding to a structure fire, and investigators have not yet determined the cause, ABC7 Los Angeles reports; City News Service contributed to the initial reporting.
LAFD investigators are expected to review the response, the apparatus, and its condition before releasing further details. This story will be updated as the department and city officials provide more information.
