Truck carrying 8,900 gallons of gasoline catches fire on Highway 120 near Oakdale
Modesto Fire Department crews responded early Saturday morning to a truck fire involving nearly 8,900 gallons of gasoline along Highway 120, just north of Oakdale, according to fire officials.
The call came in at 4:22 a.m. for a pickup on fire near Cleveland Avenue, according to Capt. Joseph Spani of the Modesto Fire Department. As firefighters were en route, additional 911 callers reported the vehicle was a gasoline truck.
Firefighters arrived on the scene and found a tanker truck with two gasoline-filled tanks. A set of tires at the rear of the front tank had caught fire and ignited nearby grass along the highway, Spani said.
The driver escaped unharmed and ran a safe distance away. He told firefighters the truck was carrying approximately 8,900 gallons of gasoline. It was not near any buildings or other vehicles.
Due to the rural location, a water tender was dispatched to support firefighting efforts in the absence of hydrants.
Firefighters laid down a hose line and began dousing the flames from about 150 feet away. As additional personnel arrived, the line was advanced and the fire was fully extinguished, Spani said.
In total, seven firefighters responded, including a battalion chief. The fire burned an approximately 20-by-20-foot patch of grass, officials said.
No injuries were reported.
