POMPANO BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Two cars caught on fire after a tractor-trailer dragged down power lines in Pompano Beach.
Pompano Beach Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene along the 1900 block of Northwest 32nd Street, near Powerline Road, just after 1 p.m., Monday.
The truck driver was able to record cellphone video of the blaze moments after it sparked.
The truck driver said he often makes deliveries in this area. As he was leaving from a drop-off, there was a low-hanging Comcast line over the road that somehow got caught in his vehicle and came down, causing the utility pole to topple.
“The cable crashed with the trailer, and then the transformer fell right on top of the truck,” he said as he spoke through a translator.
When we lost power, I was, ‘What is this?’ [The lights] were flickering. Then I smelled this smell of burning,” said Dennis Rodriguez, who works in the area.
The truck driver said the fire was too big for him to be able to do anything in an attempt to put it out.
Witness Daniel Poore said the flames spread quickly.
“Man, that thing caught fire really fast, so luckily, everybody just stayed back, and the fire department was out here in no time, was able to put it out,” he said.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire quickly, but by that time, the cars had sustained severe damage.
“My boss called me. He said my car was on fire,” said Ivan Navarro, who owns one of the vehicles.
7Skyforce HD flew over the scene where two power lines could be seen on the ground. One of them was left charred near the burned cars.
No one was hurt.
Area residents described the incident as a freak accident. They said they’re not sure why the Comcast line was so low.
Traffic in the area was not affected.
Florida Power and Light crews remained at the scene well into the evening repairing the utility pole. Power was restored to most nearby businesses as the sun set.
Even though Navarro had to find another way home, he said he’s thankful the outcome wasn’t worse.
“It’s just a car. That’s the good thing, it’s just material. I can get another car,” he said.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.