Fire destroys fuel tanker at KC truck stop

December 30, 2011 at 8:38 a.m. | Updated December 30, 2011 at 8:38 a.m.

Firemen from North Callaway and Central fire protection districts battled a gasoline tanker truck fire at the Petro Truck Stop in Kingdom City for about one hour Wednesday afternoon. The fire started in the cab and spread to the empty tanker when a rubber tire below the front of the gasoline transport tank caught fire, burning a hole into the tanker.
Firemen from North Callaway and Central fire protection districts battled a gasoline tanker truck fire at the Petro Truck Stop in Kingdom City for about one hour Wednesday afternoon. The fire started in the cab and spread to the empty tanker when a rubber tire below the front of the gasoline transport tank caught fire, burning a hole into the tanker.

About 15 firemen from North Callaway and Central fire protection districts battled a gasoline tanker truck fire for about one hour Wednesday afternoon at the Petro Truck Stop in Kingdom City.

"We were lucky the gasoline tanker was empty instead of being full. But it still created a lot of fire and smoke that could be seen several miles away," said Ronnie Huff of the Central Fire Protection District.

Sterling Mitchell of the North Callaway Fire Protection District said a rubber tire under the tanker caught fire and burned a hole in the empty gasoline transport tank.

The fire was reported at 12:36 p.m. Wednesday. Huff said when firemen arrived they assumed the tanker truck parked about 75 yards from the Iron Skillet restaurant at the Petro truck stop was full of gasoline.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.