Story printed on: June 4,2003

LOCAL NEWS: New Millford

By MIKE WISER Rockford Register Star

NEW MILLFORD Rockford firefighters were on the scene of a major fire at a trucking company terminal late Tuesday.

At least two trailers were destroyed and three others were burning at the USF Holland Motor Express terminal, 1751 New Milford School Road. The blaze was believed to have started after a forklift used to load trailers punctured an aerosol can containing paint.

There were no reports of injuries, and no hazardous chemicals were believed to be involved. Of the emergency vehicles streaming into the site, none were ambulances.

First reports of the blaze came in about 9:45 p.m.

Rockford Fire Department Chief of Operations Bill Beaman said night-shift workers in the terminal were using a forklift to load trailers. After the forklift punctured the aerosol can, a worker went to get an oil-drying compound to clean up the area. Before he returned, the fire had started.

Although the sprinkler system in the dock area activated, the fire was confined to trailers and did not enter the terminal. As the fire reached each can, explosions could be heard in the area and flaming debris was sent into the sky, falling on nearby trailers.

Fire officials said there was no danger to the public