Semi truck engine catches fire in Thornhill

The Thornhill Volunteer Fire Department responded to a semi truck engine fire on Hwy 16 Thursday morning.

“The engine compartment had caught fire, the owner-operator had put a couple extinguishers on it, was unable to get it under control and then we responded to facilitate the full extinguishment of the engine compartment,” said Rick Boehm, fire chief.

The fire did not extend into the cab. Boehm said the owner-operator suffered a minor, small burn to a finger during extinguishment.

The fire department used a compressed air and foam solution to put out the fire and placed absorbent socks on the road to collect any potential oils, which will be collected by the end of the day (Dec. 3).

Hwy 16 did not need to be closed except for during the time the fire was being extinguished. The semi was parked safely on the wide shoulder of the highway clear of the roadway and had to be towed.

The Terrace Fire Department responded to a similar situation Thursday, Nov. 26, when a semi truck engine caught fire on Hwy 16 in Terrace.

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