Logging truck goes up in flames after electrical fire, arcing

The logging truck appeared a total loss (Rochester Fire photo)

GONIC - A logging truck went up in flames on Monday while taking down trees in an area off Hansonville Road.

The fire was toned around 11:35 a.m. in the area of 181 Hansonville Road.

The operator of the truck said he noticed the voltage gauge was pulsing back and forth shortly before he began to smell electrical burning, according to a report obtained by The Rochester Voice through a 91-A request to City Attorney Terence O'Rourke, who handles all such requests.

The operator of the truck said he activated a suppression system, but it didn't work. He than ran and got a fire extinguisher from a skidder and called 911. By the time he got back to the logging truck it was fully involved, according to the report narrative.

Firefighters from the Gonic Station arrived around 11:50 a.m. and extinguished the blaze using foam.

About a dozen firefighters and three trucks responded to the fire.

The heat source was found to be electrical arcing and the cause was unintentional.

When firefighters arrived they summoned a forestry truck from Somersworth and a tanker from Barrington.

The fire was deemed under control by 12:10 p.m. and fully extinguished at 12:40 p.m.