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Truck driver faces charges for starting fire by dragging lowered landing gear, Colorado sheriff says

Discussion in 'Trucking Accidents' started by drvrtech77, Jan 19, 2026.

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  1. Jan 19, 2026 #1
    drvrtech77

    drvrtech77 Road Train Member

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    The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) says that a truck driver is facing criminal charges after allegedly starting a prairie fire by dragging landing gear along an interstate in Colorado.

    Around 1 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, SCSO reported that a “wildland fire that ignited in Sedgwick County” had been contained with help from “multiple agencies, fire departments, communications centers, medical services, and community partners from across the region.”

    Police said that the fire was contained inside the boundaries of I-76, Highway 59, County Road 18, and County Road 19. No structures were lost and no injuries were reported.

    Following containment of the fire, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office received a tip along with video footage showing a semi truck traveling eastbound on I-76 near mile marker 165 while dragging the lowered landing gear of the trailer, producing sparks that ignited the prairie fire,” SCSO said.

    Police located the suspect truck parked on the eastbound Julesburg on-ramp near mile marker 180, and “after further investigation, the driver was charged in connection with setting fire to the prairie, and the semi-truck and trailer were impounded as evidence.”

    CBS News identified the truck driver as Scott Trumbo, 52, of California.

    Truck driver faces charges for starting fire by dragging lowered landing gear, Colorado sheriff says
     
    drvrtech77, Jan 19, 2026
    drvrtech77, Jan 19, 2026
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  3. Jan 19, 2026 #2
    Arctic_fox

    Arctic_fox Experienced mx13 execrator

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    Say it with me kids. And this is why we do pretrips, walkarounds and check our #### mirrors.
     
    Arctic_fox, Jan 19, 2026
    Arctic_fox, Jan 19, 2026
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  4. Jan 20, 2026 #3
    Concorde

    Concorde Road Train Member

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    They located the guy because he’s the one who called in the fire..just a small detail CDL Life ignored :)

    Although 500 acres were burned..no damage was done and no one was injured.

    No damage because the fire is beneficial to the prairie ecosystem.

    I say he be ordered back to ACME Truck Driving School and as punishment he will be required to raise and lower landing gear 500 times :)
     
    Concorde, Jan 20, 2026
    Concorde, Jan 20, 2026
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  5. Jan 20, 2026 #4
    201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Well, that's a long ways from me, but I think that's all no man's land anyway. Just for the record, it may have been a mechanical failure, I've had and seen landing gear leg drop, not sure how one could drive with one dragging though. I see signs saying to check chains from dragging, I just don't see how a couple sparks could travel that far off the road and start a fire. I'd be much more inclined to think it's some bozo with a cigarette.
     
    201, Jan 20, 2026
    201, Jan 20, 2026
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  7. Jan 20, 2026 #5
    bullhaulerswife

    bullhaulerswife Forum Leader/Admin Staff Member Administrator

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    Ha, no damages done. That's rich as I watched people I grew up with evacuated and worried about their livestock. Or how about Lucy's place on the other side of the interstate that could have burned down. I know the owner.

    The driver ran, and was caught 15 miles away from the scene. I don't think he called it in, but the people that videoed it did.
     
    bullhaulerswife, Jan 20, 2026
    bullhaulerswife, Jan 20, 2026
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  8. Jan 20, 2026 #6
    Concorde

    Concorde Road Train Member

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    Yep, no damages done..CDL Life has a habit of leaving details out.

    According to a more credible source the driver called it in.

    I normally do my homework before committing but who knows, I recently suffered 6 strokes so there’s that.
     
    Concorde, Jan 20, 2026
    Concorde, Jan 20, 2026
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  9. Jan 20, 2026 #7
    Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    So….what do the cattle eat while they’re waiting for the grass to grow back? Sounds like damages to me. Also fences tend to not do well when a fire goes through. Sounds like damages to me. And yes, it was stated the driver called it in. But he also acted like he wasn’t aware he was responsible for it, per the same news article you read.
     
    Long FLD, Jan 20, 2026
    Long FLD, Jan 20, 2026
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  10. Jan 20, 2026 #8
    Concorde

    Concorde Road Train Member

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    Did CDL Life omit the fact that the driver called in the blaze? What the driver admitted or didn’t is irrelevant to what I originally said.

    You obviously didn’t read the same article as I since it didn’t mention any property damage or cattle food sources being diminished. Maybe the article that said it was a wheel causing the sparks?

    Nonetheless, I deliver in Denver tomorrow afternoon and will be sure to keep my eyes open on my way to Omaha.

    Sorry to cause so much drama, lol
     
    Concorde, Jan 20, 2026
    Concorde, Jan 20, 2026
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  11. Jan 20, 2026 #9
    Concorde

    Concorde Road Train Member

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    @Long FLD
    Off topic but if you’re ever in need of medical help this hospital is absolutely amazing. They were all over me like I was actually some important person, lol.

    IMG_7779.png
     
    Concorde, Jan 20, 2026
    Concorde, Jan 20, 2026
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  12. Jan 20, 2026 #10
    Ddh77777

    Ddh77777 Light Load Member

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    He couldn't feel and hear that as soon as he took off?
     
    Ddh77777, Jan 20, 2026
    Ddh77777, Jan 20, 2026
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