Friday night May 22nd, 2020, I was taking it easy at home, resting up from work, when Sullivan Fire Department was dispatched to a vehicle fire on westbound I-44 at the 224 mile marker. That isn`t far from my house and as I crossed the James K. Schatz Memorial Bridge on Elmont Road over 44, I could see wb traffic backing up and a glow ahead. I pulled up and turned my flashers on, Sullivan Pumper 854 had just arrived and firefighters were preparing to attack the fire, looked like a four door Ford pickup and it was fully involved, all the doors on it were open and heavy fire could be seen inside it….

Firefighters began their attack from a ways behind the truck on their approach to the front…Davey Sumpter had the nozzle on this fire…

Tim Leasor, with MO Bap Ambulance, a good friend of mine, was up in front of me about fifty feet shooting some photos with his phone camera of the front of the pick up view….I walked up and talked to him for a few minutes after I shot this video….

Fires 2020-0522 Ford Pickup on Fire WB 44 at 224 MM AVI 77

…turns out this pick up had magnesium components inside the cab and just behind the front bumper of the truck…magnesium, when on fire and hit with a stream of water, reacts violently with the water, creating what looks like fireworks and roman candles, going off in the photo and video…I have shot a lot of fires with this type of reaction…Tim was able to get some great video and photos as well from his angle.

Davey and Trevor were able to bring the fire under control shortly after I shot the video, I am sure the passing motorists in the passing lane were relieved as that reaction can be quite frightening to anyone who has never observed it up close like that…