A Winthrop, Ark., fire truck, summoned to a house fire Thursday morning west of Cross Roads, Ark., rolled into a pond and became submerged in the water and mud.
The fire was reported by an alarm company at 12:55 a.m. Thursday in a residence located about five miles west of Cross Roads near Arkansas Highway 234. The owner works out of town and no one was at home when the fire started.
The firefighters were prepared to spray water on the fire when the 1985 model pumper truck started rolling into the pond and sank.
"We're not sure what happened or why the fire truck started rolling into the pond," said Winthrop Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Miller, who is also a first responder.
"We had pulled the hoses and were fixing to start spraying water when the truck rolled forward and went into the pond," Miller said.
The house was engulfed when Winthrop, Foreman and Alleene fire departments arrived.
The first person to arrive at the fire was Little River County Deputy John Blagg, said Sheriff Bobby Walraven.
Blagg got inside the house and was using a fire extinguisher to suppress the fire but had to exit the house because of the smoke, Walraven said.
Baker Wrecker Service removed the fire truck from the pond Thursday afternoon.
Miller said the removal was difficult.
"We appreciate Baker Wrecker Service for their help. It was hard to get the truck out of the pond," he said.
"We (are) fortunate no one got hurt," Miller said.
The operator had jumped off the fire truck when it started rolling and was unharmed.
"I want to thank all of the fire departments who came and helped us. It was 21 degrees," he said.
The fire truck was insured.
"Hopefully that will help us with repairs to the truck," he said.
Miller said the cause will be investigated to determine what caused the fire and the fire truck accident.