Emergency crews respond to late night Jeep fire
Photo by SHOSHONE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT NO.1/ What is left of the Jeep Wrangler after fire crews extinguished the fire Tuesday night.
Photo by SHOSHONE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT NO.1/ Steam rises from the Jeep as fire personnel spray the vehicle with water.
Photo from the USW LOCAL 5114 Facebook page/ The first post regarding the Jeep and its driver on Aug. 12.
Photo from the USW LOCAL 5114 Facebook page/ The second post regarding the Jeep and its driver on Aug. 13.
Photo from the USW LOCAL 5114 Facebook page/ The third post regarding the driver on Aug. 15.
Photo from the USW LOCAL 5114 Facebook page/ The fourth post regarding the driver on Aug. 15.
OSBURN – Fire and EMS personnel from Shoshone County Fire District No.1 were dispatched to Interstate-90 Tuesday night for a report of a vehicle fire.
SCFD No.1 was toned out at 10:28 p.m. and arrived at the scene, just east of the Osburn I-90 exit, shortly after. Crews found a fully engulfed Jeep Wrangler in the right lane of the Interstate with the driver, identified as Lucky Friday electrician as Richard Summers, standing away from it.
Efforts to suppress the blaze began almost immediately while a Shoshone County Sheriff’s deputy closed both lanes of traffic for safety.
Both lanes were blocked for several minutes while firefighters worked to put out the fire and prevent it from spreading to the nearby hillside.
After crews got the fire under control, both lanes of traffic were eventually reopened.
SCFD No.1 firefighter John Miller states that the cause of the fire is unknown as of Tuesday night, but investigators with the Idaho State Fire Marshal’s Office will be present Wednesday to inspect the wreckage.
Summers, the only occupant, was unharmed and the vehicle itself appears to be a total loss.
Summers and his Jeep have been the subject of conversation by many in the Silver Valley since they were both put on blast by the United Steel Workers Union Local 5114 Facebook page earlier this month (see above photos).
“SCAB OF THE WEEK!!!!” the first Aug. 12 post read, “This SCAB claims that he is THE electrician at the Lucky Friday and there’s nothing anyone can do about it!! Yes, this jeep is his pride and joy!!!”
The next day, USW 5114 again referenced the two in a post– stating Summers’ name and accusing him of attempting to start trouble with the striking Lucky Friday miners on behalf of Hecla Mining Co. President, Phillips Baker Jr.
“The SCAB driving the jeep is named Richard “little dick” Summers. Hecla has obviously encouraged him to create aggression and violence!! Another one of Bakers flunkies. Hecla is putting him up in Silver Mtn. Resort condos so he can hide his borrowed jeep in the back parking lot.”
On Aug. 15, the Union again reiterated their stance on the driver and the company in two separate posts.
“Lucky Friday management is obviously getting desperate as they are now encouraging one of their SCABS to attempt to provoke violence!!!” the second post stated, “A true showing of their management style!! Signed with pride, Dave Roose.”
The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office is also looking into the Tuesday night Jeep fire, but it is unknown as of Aug. 22 at 3 a.m. if the incident is being treated as a criminal investigation or not. This will most likely depend on the results of the fire marshals inspection of the wreckage.
The Shoshone News-Press will reach out to all entities involved and provide more information on this situation as it is released.