Four firefighters were involved in an accident with their lorry whilst returning from a call-out to a bush fire on Wednesday. For reasons as yet unknown, the forest fire tanker veered off the road, before coming to rest on its side on the verge of a county road after rolling over several times. The accident took place near the hamlet of Rocles (Lozère).
The crew were quickly taken in charge by a team leader who was travelling ahead of the vehicle. Whilst the driver was able to get out unaided, the equipment manager and the two crew members were trapped inside the lorry. A rescue operation was required to free them.
Two firefighters classified as ‘high priority’, two others as ‘medium priority’
According to our information, the four firefighters stationed at the Langogne fire station (Lozère Fire and Rescue Service) were injured. Aged 55, 52, 45 and 25, they were taken to hospitals in the region. The two seriously injured, classified as ‘absolute emergencies’, were airlifted by helicopter to the Lapeyronie University Hospital in Montpellier
Two firefighters, aged 25 and 45, were taken to hospitals in Le Puy-en-Velay and Lozère-Mende as relatively urgent cases. Two others, aged 52 and 55, in critical condition, were airlifted by two Civil Protection helicopters -Dragon 48 and Dragon 34- to the Lapeyronie University Hospital in Montpellier.
We wish a speedy recovery to the entire crew of the forest fire-fighting tanker from the @sdislozere, following an accident on the way back from a call-out.
— Grégory Allione (@AllioneFNSPF) 3 August 2022
Three colleagues with minor injuries and one with more serious injuries were treated following a major extrication operation. #Lozère pic.twitter.com/C4sbQvoP6d