Fire truck crashes on way to fire - Minor injuries

A Brooktrails fire engine rests on its side after a Saturday afternoon crash...
(The Willits News)
The Willits News - Fire truck crashes on way to fire:

A fire engine from the Brooktrails Fire Department crashed on its way to an afternoon vegetation fire on Sherwood on Saturday, August 18. Of the five volunteer firefighters on the pumper fire truck, two received minor injuries.

Battalion Chief Robert Nowlin, 40, received a broken finger and Firefighter Adam Stewart, 27, has bruised ribs and a minor leg injury.

The other firefighters, Neil Banham, 53, Josh Moralez, 18, and Jake Jones, 19, escaped injury.

While the fire engine was en route to the mixed grass and timber fire, its right-side wheels traveled off the main portion of the roadway, causing it to slide out of control on the dirt. Even though Nowlin attempted to regain control, he was unable to and the truck rolled onto its right side beside the roadway, says Officer Terry Munoz of the California Highway Patrol. Other members of the fire department following arrived promptly on scene and extricated the crew.

"I am so grateful that the crew was not seriously injured and that no one from the public was injured, either," says Brooktrails Fire Chief Daryl Schoeppner. "Firefighting is a risky job; these guys put themselves at risk for the public every time they respond. We never like to see these kids of things happen,