At approximately 1:45 pm yesterday the department was dispatched to a report of a fire in the woods on Bunns Lane. About a minute later, Fords District 7 was dispatched to a truck fire on the Turnpike. First responding units were on scene about a minute later and quickly ascertained that a tanker carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline had overturned and began to burn on the NJ Turnpike southbound ramp to Exit 11, adjacent to Bunns Lane.

The department deployed our foam trailer and set up Truck 1-2-6 for aerial operations in order to reach the ramp from Bunns Lane. Hand lines were deployed for suppression and to contain areas of brush that were on fire adjacent to the incident. Departments from across the township were utilized at the scene and as cover for the responding districts. The Port Authority Police responded with a foam unit from Newark Airport.

The driver of the truck suffered burns and was air lifted by State Police NorthStar helicopter to the burn unit at St. Barnabas hospital.

An identical incident occurred in March of 2005.

Photos courtesy WABC-TV
Video courtesy WABC-TV/Associated Press/WCBS-TV