8 firefighters injured in rollover accident on Orange County highway

Eight firefighters were hospitalized Thursday evening following a rollover accident on a highway in Orange County.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the accident occurred shortly before 7 p.m. in Irvine on toll road 241 near SR-133.

Authorities said a ladder that fell onto the road forced the oncoming fire truck to swerve to avoid the object. The maneuver caused the vehicle to strike a guardrail and overturn.

There were eight firefighters in the vehicle at the time. They were teams returning home after battling the ongoing airport fire in Trabuco Canyon.

Six firefighters were seriously injured and two were slightly injured in the collision, CHP said. They were all taken to local trauma centers and hospitals for emergency treatment.

“We ask that you pray for our firefighters and their families,” said Brian Fennessy, fire chief of the Orange County Fire Authority. “All families have been notified. This is the beginning of a long road for many of these firefighters and our fire departments.”

A video from Sky5 showed the overturned fire truck blocking the highway and large amounts of debris scattered on the road.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident. The truck belonged to the Santiago Hand Crew of the Orange County Fire Authority.

Six firefighters were still in critical condition on Thursday evening.

Two victims were taken to Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana, three to Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo and two remain at UCI Medical Center in Orange.

“We send our prayers and support to our partners at the OC Fire Authority following this evening's serious traffic accident involving the Santiago Hand Crew 1 on the 241 Toll near Portola,” Irvine Police posted on X. “The entire OCFA family is in our thoughts.”

The northbound lanes of 241 are closed and the northbound ramps of SR-133 are closed at Irvine Boulevard as emergency crews work to clear the debris.

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