Friday, November 24, 2017

Tennessee: A truck carrying 3 elephants to Florida caught fire. Snacks kept them safe.

TENNESSEE -- Three elephants named Mikia, Lovey and Lou were rescued on a Georgia highway after the tractor-trailer they were traveling in caught fire.

The African elephants came from Wilstem Ranch in French Link, Indiana, and were headed Sunday night to a “winter retreat” in Sarasota, where they routinely spend their winter months.


The report came in around 2 a.m. as the tractor-trailer crossed over the state line into Georgia from Tennessee on Interstate 24, according to the Chattanooga Fire Department. The fire department was one of several agencies that responded.

Chattanooga Battalion Chief Lesley Morgan said the tractor was on fire, but the trailer was not and the owners were able to get the elephants out safely, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page.

They were given some hay to munch on as crews worked to put the fire out, officials said.

Chief Morgan said the elephants were “huge” but behaved well.

After the blaze was put out, the owners made calls to get another tractor to their location. After that, they continued on their way to Sarasota.


*  *  *  *  *  *

Chattanooga Fire Department posted on Facebook November 20, 2017 ·

Elephants on I-24...Another Day in the Office

So what is that peeking its large head over a guardrail on the interstate you might ask? An African elephant! There were actually three of them. Battalion Chief Lesley Morgan said they got the call of a reported tractor-trailer fire on I-24 East around 2:00 a.m. It was actually just across the state line in Georgia. Firefighters with Quint 3, Tanker 3, Squad 20 and Squad 1 (Green Shift) responded. Chief Morgan said the tractor was on fire, but the trailer was not.

The owners got the elephants safely out of the trailer and gave them some hay to munch on while firefighters put the fire out.

Chief Morgan said the elephants were HUGE, but well behaved. With the fire out, the owners made some calls to get another tractor to their location. After that, they continued on their way to Sarasota, Florida.

Our firefighters did not take any photos, for fear of spooking them with the flash. However, Firefighter Engineer Matthew Rorex and Eddie Reeves found this photo, which was taken by Tracy Beavers with Puckett EMS TN / N.GA and shared on Facebook. So now we're sharing it with you! Fire Engineering The Trenton-Dade County Fire department also responded to this call.

  

(Miami Herald - November 23, 2017)

No comments:

Post a Comment