CINCINNATI – A tire on a burning Rumpke truck exploded with the sound of "a bomb" and sent a Cincinnati firefighter to a hospital Friday morning.
The firefighter had responded to a truck fire on Vine Street near Laurel Avenue in Hartwell, a Rumpke spokesperson said. The fire in the rear brakes caused a tire to explode and strike the firefighter.
"It sounded like a bomb going off. It was that loud,” said Richard Dwyer, manager of nearby Withers Import and Domestic Auto Repair.
Dwyer said he is familiar with brake systems used on trucks like Rumpke’s.
“Especially on trucks like that, those air brakes and that, if it locks on, it will get hot enough to cause a fire,” Dwyer said.
The unnamed firefighter was transported to a hospital with "very minor injuries," Cincinnati Fire spokesperson Cathy Ritter said. He is expected to be back at work Sunday, she said.
Other firefighters from Engine Co. 2 in Carthage said their injured colleague is recuperating at home.
The truck was headed to Rumpke’s Recycling Center on Vine Street for maintenance after the driver reported issues with the brakes, the company said.
