Firefighters killed after vehicle overturns en route to forest fire
Makassar (ANTARA) - Two firefighters from Pangkajene and Islands Regency (Pangkep), South Sulawesi, have died after the fire engine they were travelling in was involved in an accident while heading to a forest and land fire (karhutla) site in Labakkage District.
“This incident befell our members, members of the Pangkep Regency Fire Department. They were on their way to tackle a land fire occurring in the Labakkang area,” said the Head of the Pangkep Fire Department, Hafid, when confirmed in Pangkep on Tuesday.
The two officers who died in the accident were Platoon Commander Intje Irwan Nurdin and firefighter Rusman Hadi.
Hafid explained that the fire engine was carrying seven personnel and water for firefighting when it crashed on the Makassar-Parepare Highway, in Kampung Bujung Batue, Labakkang Village, Labakkang District.
According to reports received, the fire engine was travelling towards the fire site and attempted to overtake a vehicle in front of it after passing the Labakkang traffic lights.
Hafid stated that the driver then attempted to avoid the vehicle ahead. The fire engine, carrying a heavy load of water, subsequently lost control and overturned twice.
“They were avoiding a vehicle queuing for fuel by moving to the right; after that, the vehicle could not be controlled because it was fully loaded with water and other equipment. That is when the tyres slipped and it overturned twice,” he said.
He noted that there were seven personnel inside the fire engine, consisting of three people in the cabin, including the driver, and four personnel in the rear section.
“Two of our members have passed away, two are being referred to Wahidin Hospital in Makassar, and the others are still in the hospital,” he said.
“We pray that all members currently receiving treatment can recover and return to duty,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Law Enforcement Unit of the Pangkep Police Traffic Division, Ipda U Usman DJ, confirmed that the accident occurred in the Kampung Ujung Batu area, Labakkang District.
Police recorded the event as a single-vehicle accident.
“The chronology is that the fire engine was moving in the right lane from the direction of Makassar to Parepare, so it continued into the right lane. When it passed a vehicle in front, it moved to the left. Then the vehicle moved to the right, could not be controlled, and overturned,” he said.
Police have secured the overturned fire engine and are still investigating the cause of the incident.