Fire Responses

Below are comments made in regards to the August 14, 1999 fire at USA International Speedway involving SARA Late Models:

by Chief Craig C. Clarke on August 19, 1999 at 02:15:53:

While on standby at the above mentioned facility, Track Rescue Fire Department (TRFD) was dispatched to a multi-car incident on the back stretch coming out of turn two (2). Unit 107 responded from Turn One and Unit 106 responded from the back stretch arriving in 17 SECONDS! Upon our arrival, there were three separate race cars with fuel cell fires fully involved. At this time, all drivers had been accounted for and an aggressive assult was launched to save the remaining property. Three distinct fires were attacked from several angles to reach the seat of the fires. A combination of dry chemical (Purple "K", Sodium Bicarbonate & Monammonium Phosphate) and Water/Cold Fire[Registered Trade Mark] were applied by truck mounted main system hand lines, as well as portable extinguishers. Successful intervention was accomplished and all fires were brought UNDER CONTROL AND EXTINGUISHED IN TWO MINUTES, FIFTY-FOUR SECONDS. All three vehicles sustained heavy structural and fire damage. It was noted that none of the vehicles involved appeared to have any on-board fire extinguishing systems other than the mandatory 2.5lb extinguisher. During the time that the fires were brought under control, bystanders advised that one of the drivers had sustained burn injuries. The driver stated that he self-extricated himself from his vehicle just after the fires erupted and it was at that point that he sustained burn injuries. Polk County EMS Auxiliary was summoned to the scene and was assisted by TRFD in the treatment of the treatment of the patient. The driver stated that he was wearing an open face helmet, no fire protective hood and was wearing a single layer drivers suit without fire retardant undergarments. The driver was placed on the stretcher and due to the nature and pain of of his injuries, a Water-Jel[Trade Mark] fire blanket was placed on the patient at the direction and discretion of supervisory members of the PCEMS Auxiliary and TRFD. The patient was transported from the scene to Tampa General Burn Center via land ambulance. After the treatment of the first patient, another driver was evaluated for neck pain and transported for evaluation. The cars involved in the incident were removed and the clean-up crew did a final cleaning of all fine debris and the track was then inspected again and determined to be ready for the remaining race. All units were replenished with supplies and placed back in service.

The above account describes what actually happened, not what has been misreported by those who lack knowledge and do not understand fire or factors contributing to it. This was a large scale fire involving three fuel cells with a load of approximately 60 gallons of high octane racing fuel, as well as fiberglass race car bodies, aluminum and steel and rubber tires. Throw all of the above into a pile and light them on fire, this is what we had to deal with. Our highly specialized equipment, which is constantly maintained and inspected, PERFORMED. That is one of the reasons why the fires were put out.

To the critics that would like to tell those of us that do this for a living how to do our jobs, I have one comment....Go to fire school....and then continue with EMT school....followed by HAZ-MAT school....specialty training in handling natural gas and propane....followed by continuing education and training...I would say that you would be ready to comment in about 5 years after having another 15 years of on the job experience.

The track promoters and officials should be given a round of praise and thanks for careing about the drivers to have safety crews present. My prayers and best wishes go to the drivers for a speedy recovery from the injuries they sustained from the crash.

With a crew of 8 dedicated firefighters including myself, any one of us was ready to go into any one of those burning cars with risk of great bodily harm to save the driver. Persons that are pointing fingers and casting stones should be greatful to know that ther are dedicated people such as firefighters that are ready to sacrifice their safety to protect another human life.

Chief Craig C. Clarke
Track Rescue Fire Department

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I was not present at the Lakeland event where this horrendous fire occurred but have a vast background with you Craig from my years at DeSoto and since. I think that from all accounts I've heard, you did a great job and indeed, the circumstances were "the worst nightmare" imaginable. Just dealing with one car is bad enough, but multiple cars with full fuel loads is everyone's worst fear. Thank GOD for the ability of the drivers to get away and also for HIS blessing on Richard. These tragedies should become opportunities for promoters and tracks to learn from. Race car preparation and safety and the ability for a track to provide the type of high quality safety response teams such as yours should be a top priority, at any cost. Racers and fans are the stars. Craig, we go way back and I for one am proud to say "it's come a long way"...keep up the good work and bless those who were injured by this event. Tracks should take note and be prepared for the worse, because Lakeland had a crew that was.                            
                                                     -Margi

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This message is from all the family and loved ones of Richie Anderson!!!!! HOW DARE YOU during our time of shock and suffering show those pictures. As I post this message I have his crying wife on the phone from the hospital, as she has just heard that these pictures are on line. If you have spent every hour at his bedside as we have since the accident and watched the pain and suffering that he has gone through, you would also be outraged!!!!! You can not have any idea of what we are going through. After 35 years in this sport it is things like this that has us wondering if it has been time well spent. We know how fortunate we are to still have Richie with us but this does not lessen the heartache of watching him suffer when he is not able to see his children for fear of scaring them by the way he looks or missing his daughters first day of school on Tues. all of which brings him to tears everytime he mentions it. We all are asking for the pictures to be removed from this site.

                                -The Anderson Family and Fast Lane Racing Team

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I pray for Richie every night and hope he is better soon. I think you misunderstand Karnac's reason for the photos. As a track official, at another track, the minute I saw that picture all I could think of was how can something like that be prevented from happening. It really hits home the importance of a good safety crew and the dangers inhereent in our sport. Again, I know Karnac would never intentionally set out to hurt your family. They are constantly trying to emphasize the importance of safety and this was just an illustration of why it is so important. Hope all goes well for your family and will continue to include you in my prayers.
                                                  RM
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I am sorry for the pain and suffering Richie Anderson is going through, but I am one who believes the pictures of the incident must be seen. Richie’s accident should go as a wake up call for all Short Track racers, that money can’t buy wins, but it can buy safer equipment. All tracks have seen fires at one time or another. Tracks, car owners, drivers, and emergency personnel should see what can happen when things start to go wrong. No ammount of money spent on protective clothing or other safety equipment will gareentee a racer will never be faced with a fire situation, but the following observations are made so TEAMS will make changes where their Team needs them most.Fuel cells are better than no fuel cell at all, but at the higher speeds of some tracks, fuel cells & BLADDERS should be mandatory. Open faced helmets are better than no helmet at all, but CLOSED FACE HELMETS, with proper fire protection head cover, is a much better choice for driver safety. Single layer fire suits, are better than jeans and T-shirts, but TRIPLE LAYER NOMEX, or even 4 or 5 layer fire suits, are much improved in allowing mistakes to be survivable. A small, hand held fire extinguisher, is better than no extinguisher at all, but a proper ON BOARD FIRE Suppression System, can add precious seconds to your survival time, in a fiery crash. I know that cost, as well as the heat of the Florida sunshine, keeps many Teams from better safety equipment, but hopefully, these changes and many, many, more will come of the Lakeland fire. Everyone should have the opportunity to see the pictures, to allow them opportunity to make sure it doesn’t happen to them or anyone, ever again.

                                                         -Bill Green

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I think what most of you don't realize on our outrage about the pictures is that Richie is still in the car at that time. Now can anyone of you honestly say that it would not upset your family member? Having been around for a long time I can remember a time of ethics if someone was injured at least till he was somewhat better the pictures were not shown or published. I do understand the need for everyone involved in racing to take a step back and look at the saftey issues. Chief you made the comment that the driver had a single layer suit but did you know that the suit is a high rated Simpson and better than alot of the double layer suits? Bill please get all the facts but that suit rating is a 10-12 second rating not 2-3 yes Richie does take the responsibility of the open faced helmet, jast as the one used by Earnhardt, the issue is the inspection of these cars by the tracks or the series. BOTTOM LINE!!!!!!! INSPECT ALL THE CARS EVERY WEEK!!!