PENHOLD – RCMP are investigating a suspicious truck fire that caused extensive damage to the vehicle.
Penhold Fire Department crews were called at 11:13 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22 to a vehicle on fire near the intersection of Rge. Rd. 275 and Highway 42.
Fire crews arrived to find a fully involved pickup truck with two full auxiliary fuel tanks in the box, said a fire department media release.
Bailey McKay, the fire department’s acting fire lieutenant, said his firefighting crew "immediately” shut down the highway and attacked the fire with a special firefighting foam.
“The firefighters did a great job and the fire was quickly brought under control,” said McKay, adding firefighters also used a thermal imaging camera to make sure the fuels did not re-ignite. “We were then able to open up traffic to a single lane, alternating east and west until about 12:20 p.m.”
Fire Chief Jim Pendergast, noting 15 firefighters with four units responded to the truck fire, said no one was at the scene when firefighters arrived. One firefighter sustained minor injuries while responding, he added.
"The firefighter did not require medical treatment at the time. "
Pendergast said that there was “heavy damage” to the truck and the cause is deemed to be suspicious. He said Innisfail RCMP is investigating.
