PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Two fire trucks responding to a call collided at a downtown intersection Thursday, injuring nine firefighters, one seriously.

Photos Courtesy PhillyFireNews.com
Ron Trout/PFN Staff Photo - Browse More on PFN



Raw Video of the Scene:


Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said none of the injuries appeared life-threatening after the crash, which involved a ladder truck and a fire engine in a residential neighborhood.

The most seriously injured firefighter, a lieutenant on the ladder truck, was knocked unconscious and had to be cut from the wreckage.

Ayers said he spoke at a hospital with the injured lieutenant, whose first question was, "How's my guys?"

The ladder truck and the fire engine had been speeding along perpendicular streets before they slammed into each other. The ladder truck then spun off and smashed into a utility pole, caving in one of its sides, while the fire engine clattered into the back of a parked car.

No other injuries were reported, but a woman inside a flower shop nearly struck by the ladder truck was taken to a hospital for observation because she was shaken up, Ayers said.

The cause of the crash was under investigation.

Four other fire trucks made it to the two-story home where the fire was reported and extinguished the flames.

FFN Update:

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the most seriously injured was the lieutenant on board Ladder 9, who was knocked unconscious and had to be extricated. He was conscious at a local hospital and did not appear to have life threatening injuries.

PhillyFireNews.com reports that Ladder-9 (a tiller) and Squirt 43 struck each other at 9th and Lombard while enroute to a box assignment.

Several firefighter were reported to be trapped and all nine of the firefighters were transported to local hospitals. All injuries are reported to be non life threatening. Numerous medic units requested to the scene.

Photos & More Details: KYW Radio: Nine Firefighters Hurt As Firetrucks Collide in Center City

WPVI: Slideshow - Nine firefighters hurt in crash

Video: Firefighters Injured In Center City Collision

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Wish the injured a speedy recovery!
It really comes down to human factors. I/We, like a lot of other departments were taught to slow and/or stop at all intersections. There are lights there, but you still need to watch out. They didn't do anybody any good after the collision. I can speak from experience that the rush to get there kicks in, but, get there in one piece. With that said, I hope that they will be ok.
Get well soon brothers! Another reason that we need to communicate with other units while enroute. We try to key up when we are approaching intersections that we would possibly cross with other fire units. Thank God that there were no LODD's.
thoughts and prayer are with everyone involed.wish them a speedy recovery
that could have been bad and i am so glad to see that no one was severely hurt. my prayers go out to them.
there is no need for us to keep killing are fellow fire people, if you drive it you best be able to control it .
sorry for the lost . an hay guys let stop wrecking 500,000 trucks for no reason.
Yes, I'm sorry it happened but, like most "accidents" this one was caused. Viaje con Dios.

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