Truck Driver Escapes Unharmed After his Semi Catches Fire

The driver of a semi freightliner escaped unharmed after the truck caught fire on Blue Springs Road Sunday night.
County Fire Chief Donny Green said Calvin Lankford had just left home to go hook his truck up to a trailer when a fire started in the engine compartment while he was driving down the road, only about a half mile after leaving his residence.
Lankford told firefighters that the engine stalled a couple of times and then flames shot up through the dash. Heat from the flames singed Lankford’s hair and beard. He brought the truck to a stop and got out safely.
The truck was a total loss.
Central dispatch was notified at 5:39 p.m. and members of the Blue Springs and Short Mountain Highway stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded along with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.