By PAUL WELLERSDICK - MediaNews Group
Chico Enterprise-Record (California

PARADISE Flaming construction debris in a dump trailer was extinguished by two Paradise Fire Department engines on Elliot Road Tuesday afternoon after a contractor transported the smoldering load from Magalia.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

Joe Abeyta noticed his trailer was smoldering 10 minutes south of Magalia, but said he thought he could make it to the Neal Road Landfill before the load really caught fire.

Passersby called 9-1-1 from Magalia all the way into Paradise notifying fire and police of the situation.

Paradise firefighters were chasing reports the flaming trailer for five to six minutes before finally finding the rig, Paradise Division Chief Robert Duncan said

They finally caught up to him at 1010 Elliott Road where Abeyta and his helper Tanner Betts pulled over to try and put out the fire themselves with a business' garden hose.

The building turned out to be the old Odd Fellows Hall where dance lessons had to be canceled that day because of the commotion.

Betts said he thought the fire would be snuffed by the tarp covering the load.

Paradise Division Chief Robert Duncan said the wind moving through the trailer as Abeyta drove along fanned the smoldering debris into flame like a wildfire in a windstorm.

Duncan said vehicle fires are not common and a moving vehicle fire is even less common. Though they may respond to logging trucks after their brakes catch fire, a trailer full of flaming construction material is rare.

Firefighters didn't know what caused the fire.

Abeyta was using a regular reciprocating saw to dismantle a mobile home, though he did have to cut some metal which may have sparked starting an ember before loading the trailer and heading down the road, he said.

Firefighters unpacked the trailer to get to the bottom of the fiery load, but Abeyta had to pack it all back in afterwards.

Abeyta said he's been in construction for 25 years, but he's never had a load catch fire while driving and said it was a routine job until then.

Abeyta was glad no one was hurt, though his business may suffer now, he said.

Paul Wellersdick is a reporter for the Paradise Post.


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May 14, 2009 Thursday