WINNEMUCCA - People who drive water trucks may not normally consider themselves first responders in an emergency incident.
However, the night of June 10 tens of thousands of gallons of water sprayed on an estimated 80-acre field next to Interstate 80 improved visibility at the multiple-vehicle accident scene stretching along both sides of Interstate 80. That helped law enforcement and medical personnel to do what needed to be done for all who were involved in the crashes.
Sheriff Ed Kilgore, acting as incident commander at the scene, determined that one resource - water trucks - were needed immediately to allow all other emergency response resources to function.
Kilgore got a quick response to his request for loaded water trucks from several local businesses, as well as the state and county.
A total of 11 water trucks sprayed thousands of gallons of water on a plowed field near the highway. Hunewill Construction sent five water trucks, two of which held 4,000 gallons each, and three which held 2,000 each.
Red Sheppard's businesses, Humboldt Readymix, Red Core Drilling, and Sheppard Construction each sent a water truck; two of those trucks held 4,000 gallons and one held 2,000.
Loren Hunewill said there was an additional 4,000 gallon water truck from the state of Nevada, and Humboldt County sent two water trucks that carried 5,000 gallons each.
When asked, "Where do you send a bill for the services of five water trucks and their drivers?" Hunewill answered, "I wasn't going to charge anybody."
Jessie Arthur at Red Core Drilling said much the same thing.
"We donated our trucks, water and employees' time. We got a call from the sheriff, so we came. If we can help in an emergency situation, that's what we want to do."
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