Plume from Portsmouth Truck Fire Seen Across East Bay

Members of the Portsmouth Fire Department put out a truck fire in the field behind Escobar’s Farm Friday afternoon.

Nobody was hurt, but the truck was a total loss, according to firefighters.

The fire broke out at around 12:13 p.m., according to Michael P. O’Brien, deputy chief of the Portsmouth Fire Department.

“[We] received multiple calls from locations as far away as Bristol and Tiverton for what turned out to be a fire behind Escobar’s Diary Farm. A large column of smoke was visible for many miles,” O’Brien said.

“Firefighters made quick work of a Semi on fire in the field behind Escobar’s Farm,” a post on thePortsmouth Fire Department Fanpage stated. “Unfortunately, the vehicle was a total loss. No injuries.”

O’Brien said that the fire was about 1,000 feet off Middle Road behind the farm next to a large pile of firewood.

The fire had begun to extend to an adjacent logging trailer when responders began to attack the blaze.

The fire was put out using about 1,500 gallons of water, O’Brien said.

Though there were no injuries, Tiverton’s fire department dispatched an ambulance as a precaution.

An engine from Naval Station Newport provided cover at the Portsmouth station during the incident.

“Both units were diverted to a 2 car motor vehicle accident that occurred during the fire. Fortunately, there were no injuries at the accident,” O’Brien said.

It has been a rough couple of weeks for the farm’s owner, Louis Escobar. He was hurt after a fall from his tractor last week and was treated at Rhode Island Hospital.

Jane Escobar told the Town Council earlier this week that he had several blood transfusions but was improving.

The Escobar family is well known in Portsmouth and the community appreciates the spectacular fireworks show they put on every year to celebrate Independence Day.

Photos courtesy: Portsmouth Fire Department Fanpage via Facebook.