On December 16th, 2010 Cornelius Engine 5 was responding to a reported structure fire in a commercial occupancy in Huntersville, NC.  Engine 5 was traveling emergency traffic, with regard to the rainy and potentially icy conditions, south on Poplar Tent Rd.  While responding, Engine 5 traveled onto a stretch of road encased with heavy black ice that was not visible from inside the cab which resulted in a loss of traction from the rear wheels as the road began to turn.  The Engineer driving the apparatus took strict evasive maneuvers; however, the truck continued to slide for approximately 100 yards before the front right of the truck slid off of the road and the rear of the truck continued on ice.  The end result was Engine 5 rolling over and coming to rest on the roof.  Four firefighters were riding in the apparatus and sustained no injuries, though each were checked, all have been released by a physician for normal duties.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded and investigated the incident. The police report notes that the roads were “wet and icy” and the estimated travel speed was 25mph which was the sustained speed at time of impact.

The Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue Department recently purchased a 1995 Seagrave Engine to serve as a reserve engine company. This truck will now be placed to front line service and the citizens of the Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue district will not see any lapse in service.

The Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue Department requires all of its drivers to be certified as a North Carolina Emergency Vehicle Drivers and they must undergo a rigorous in house testing procedure that includes driving the truck on a predetermined driving course.