South Fulton
South Fulton

Worker, firefighter injured after south Fulton County excavator fire

An excavator caught on fire in Palmetto on Tuesday morning, injuring a construction worker and firefighter.

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

An excavator caught on fire in Palmetto on Tuesday morning, injuring a construction worker and firefighter.
By
March 12, 2019

A construction worker and a firefighter were injured Tuesday morning after an excavator caught on fire in south Fulton County.

Fire investigators believe the machine was dripping oil, and a nearby controlled burn that was clearing land likely caused it to combust, Channel 2 Action News reported. The incident happened at a construction site on private property near Ga. 29 and Palmetto Logistics Parkway.

The worker was on the excavator when it went up in flames, Palmetto Fire Chief Henry Argo told Channel 2.

First responders rushed the worker, who was losing consciousness, to Grady Memorial Hospital, the news station reported. The worker’s injuries are non-life-threatening, and he’s expected to be OK, Argo said.

The flames have since been extinguished, but at some point a firefighter twisted his knee.

“He’s been transported to an appropriate medical facility,” Argo told Channel 2. “He’s undergoing treatment.”

The fire remains under investigation.

In other news:

Henry County police were attempting to pull over a stolen Mazda CX9 on I-75 north around 2 a.m. The Mazda got off exit 222 on Jodeco Road, turned around and re-entered the northbound lanes traveling south, officials said.

About the Author

Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives.

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