A vegan firefighter working at a fire district in Missouri responded to a tractor-trailer engulfed in flames with 40,000 pounds of ribeye steaks in cargo. This unique incident unfolded as Jenna Ulrich, a probationary firefighter at the Doolittle Rural Fire Protection District, faced a challenging situation on Monday when the department received a call reporting a tractor-trailer on fire on Interstate 174 eastbound.
The Doolittle Rural Fire Protection District, located in the very small town of Doolittle, said it has one vegan, and that happens to be Jenna Ulrich – a new firefighter whose father is also a firefighter. Ulrich was working on Monday morning when the department received a call reporting a tractor-trailer on fire on Interstate 174 eastbound. The catch? The truck was carrying 40,000 pounds of ribeye steaks.
Ulrich was stationed on the hose line during the ordeal and can be seen spraying water on the beefed-up inferno in the video posted online by the department. Her dad, Glenn, was working alongside her. Despite a job well done on the firefighters’ behalf, the department said the steaks were ‘a total loss.’ This is not the first time the small department has been called to extinguish flaming trailers carrying food. In June, a tractor-trailer fully-loaded with onions caught on fire, resulting in another total loss.
The incident highlights the unexpected challenges firefighters face when responding to emergencies involving valuable cargo. While the primary focus remains on ensuring public safety and containing the blaze, the loss of perishable goods can have economic implications for the affected businesses and local communities. The Doolittle Rural Fire Protection District has shared the event on their Facebook page, noting that nothing says ‘welcome to the fire service’ like sending the probie to put out 40,000 pounds of flaming ribeye!
In addition to the steaks and onions, the fire department has been called to handle other types of incidents, such as the recent event where firefighters cut open a playground slide to rescue a 40-year-old man stuck inside. These diverse scenarios showcase the multifaceted role of firefighters in emergency response and community service.