Two men were critically injured after a food truck near the National Mall caught on fire Wednesday afternoon. D.C. Fire and EMS responded to reports of a vehicle on fire in the 1400 block of Constitution Avenue NW around 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday. There they found a food truck on fire and two men outside the vehicle suffering from serious injuries. The department also said in later post on X that Secret Service agents performed emergency rescue efforts on the two men before they arrived and transported them to a local hospital. One man’s injuries were downgraded from critical to “serious,” according to officials.
Food truck fire 1400 block Constitution Ave NW. 1 food truck well involved on arrival. Fire knocked down. EMS will be transporting 2 adult males with critical injuries. @SecretService uniformed EMT provided critical initial care. #DCsBravest pic.twitter.com/UxYSisFvUs
— DC Fire and EMS Department (@dcfireems) July 31, 2024
D.C. Fire and EMS spokesman Vito Maggiolo confirmed with WTOP that the department removed, cooled and secured propane tanks that were inside the truck. “There are major concerns with these types of fires, (and) their use of propane for cooking,” Maggiolo told WTOP. “If they’re using those items safely, that shouldn’t happen. But there have been several food truck fires over the years that I can recall.”
Update Food truck fire 1400 block Constitution Ave NW. Fire extinguished. Propane tanks removed, cooled and secured. Fire investigators on scene. 1 of the 2 patients downgraded from critical to serious. Interim Medical Director David Vitberg also assisted on scene. #DCsBravest pic.twitter.com/eVp76EWVxZ
— DC Fire and EMS Department (@dcfireems) July 31, 2024
Officials are still investigating the cause of the fire. “I would say that the operators of food trucks should follow the regulations that are required of them, should be extremely cautious in how they operate, maintain a clean environment. The same sort of things that can cause a fire in home kitchen, could also cause a fire on a food truck,” Maggiolo said.