COLUMBIA, TN — The Maury County Fire Department has released new details about the large-scale firefighting operation required during Tuesday’s deadly tractor-trailer fire on Interstate 65 near Spring Hill.
Maury County firefighters responded Tuesday, August 18, to I-65 near mile marker 50 as part of a mutual aid response assisting the Spring Hill Fire Department. Three tractor-trailers were involved in the fire, creating an intense blaze that required a significant and sustained water supply.
MCFD initially dispatched five tankers — Tankers 21, 22, 23, 30 and 32 — while command staff coordinated resources with Spring Hill’s incident commander.
Because of the amount of material burning, the intensity of the fire and the heat of the day, crews eventually transitioned to a ladder pipe operation.
Maury County Engines 21 and 30 responded to Kedron Road, where firefighters dropped a supply line from the bridge to crews working below on the interstate. The engines then reversed to a nearby hydrant, with one engine pumping from the hydrant and another serving as a relay pump to Tanker 21 on I-65.
Approximately 1,800 feet of hose was deployed during the operation, using a combination of five-inch supply line and dual three-inch lines.
Truck 21 was also positioned on the south side of the incident and placed its elevated ladder pipe into service. The move allowed Spring Hill firefighters who had been operating hand lines to rotate out and take a much-needed break from the difficult conditions.
According to MCFD, approximately 50,000 gallons of water were flowed through Truck 21. An additional 15,000 gallons were delivered through tanker shuttle operations to supply Spring Hill Fire Department engines.
One person died as a result of the crash and fire.
Maury County Fire Department officials said the incident demonstrated the importance of cooperation between neighboring emergency agencies, noting that Spring Hill firefighters routinely provide automatic aid responses into Maury County.
Lawrence County Fire and Rescue provided standby coverage for the southern portion of Maury County while MCFD resources remained committed to the interstate incident. Maury County volunteers also repositioned equipment to maintain coverage elsewhere in the county.
MCFD additionally thanked the Maury County Sheriff’s Department and Spring Hill Police Department for providing traffic control on Kedron Road to protect the supply lines, Maury County 911 for coordinating requests and Maury County Emergency Management for providing additional rehabilitation supplies.
The extensive mutual aid response came as emergency crews worked for hours to control the major fire and manage the aftermath of the fatal crash along one of Middle Tennessee’s busiest interstate corridors.
