By Erick Angulo
Photos by Bill Tweedy
On September 17, 2018, Vallejo (CA) Engine 1 was dispatched to a report of a vehicle fire. Engine 1 arrived on scene of a working vehicle fire, which was contained to the engine compartment. As I pulled the front bumper 1 3/4-inch hos line and started to get ready to suppress the fire, one of the struts under the hood exploded and shot out like a rocket. It came out with so much force it ended up underneath the closed rollup door.
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This was definitely a close call. I did not see the strut coming until it hit the door behind me. A big earning point for me was that the car had more smoke then fire to the engine compartment, which was misleading. Remember, these struts come out at a high rate of speed and can cause serious injury.This is why it is important to always approach a vehicle at a 45-degree angle and be ready for anything.
Special thanks to Bill Tweedy for the pictures and Captain Goodner and acting engineer Tim Boothe, who were on this call.
Erick Angulois a firefighter-paramedic for the City of Vallejo (CA) Fire Department.
