1:00pm | An extremely dangerous fire broke out earlier this week when a 75-ton forklift known as a “top loader” went up in blazes during an operation at Pier A Plaza in the Port of Long Beach.
The machine, which can lift up to 40 tons, began leaking hydraulic fluid which caused the top loader to catch fire while fully extended. This created a major hazard if the top loader were to collapse, and fire crews responded around 2:45pm this Tuesday while fighting the flames from a safe distance, which ended up being a great decision.
The heat was so extreme that two of the top loader’s massive tires exploded, creating a shattering shockwave that tore a hole in a nearby shipping container and cracked the windshield of a fire engine that was not even parked nearby. Fire crews were not near the machine when it happened or there may have been serious injuries. An amateur videographer was standing some distance away and shot the following footage of the explosion (Warning: video is very loud):
Video courtesy Long Beach Fire Department
The driver of the top loader experienced minor smoke inhalation but was treated by firefighters on scene and released. Crews extinguished the blaze within minutes and the cause of the fire is still being determined.
All photos courtesy Long Beach Fire Department