WCBC

Fire and EMS units from Allegany County assisted units from Garrett County on two separate interstate incidents Thursday afternoon, according to emergency services officials.

 

Just after 12:30 p.m. units from Frostburg, Midland, Shaft and Mount Savage fire departments along with ambulances from Allegany County Department of Emergency Services, LaVale Rescue Squad and an EMS supervisor responded to I-68 at exit 29 for a reported tractor trailer fire, Lt. Todd Bowman, public information officer for Allegany County Department of Emergency Services said.

 

“First arriving Garrett County units reported heavy fire to the tractor with fire extending into the box-style trailer,” Bowman said. “The interstate was initially shut down as units arrived. One lane was able to be opened to relieve some of the traffic congestion.”

 

Bowman added the trailer was hauling cardboard and extensive overhaul took place on the scene to ensure the fire was extinguished.

 

“The Allegany County DES Hazardous Materials Team assisted Garrett County units with offloading fuel from the saddle tanks and fuel run-off into a nearby storm drain,” Bowman said.

 

Units remained on the scene for several hours with this incident before being turned over to Maryland State Highway Administration.

 

“One person, a firefighter was transported to UPMC-Western Maryland with non-life-threatening injuries,” Bowman said.  

 

Maryland State Police responded to the incident and assisted fire department units with redirecting traffic.

 

“At 4:05 p.m. Allegany County units were dispatched back to I-68 in the area of the scale house for a reported vehicle crash with one vehicle reported on fire,” Bowman said.

 

Units from Frostburg and Shaft fire departments, with ambulances from Allegany County Department of Emergency Services, LaVale Rescue Squad and an EMS supervisor responded.

 

“The first arriving unit reported a three-vehicle crash with debris in the roadway and one vehicle on fire,” Bowman said. “Occupants were quickly accounted for and triage began when the first EMS unit arrived on the scene.”

 

Four patients were transported from the second crash with non-life-threatening injuries to UPMC-Western Maryland.

 

Maryland State Police is investigating.