Eight Orange County Fire Authority firefighters hurt after truck overturns near Irvine

IRVINE, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Eight Orange County Fire Authority firefighters were injured after their truck rolled over along State Route 133 near Irvine, according to the agency's fire chief.

Chief Brian Fennessy said the crew was wrapping up a 12-hour shift battling the Airport Fire when the crash happened.

"I've been a fire chief for 10 years and these are the toughest things to have to deal with," said Chief Fennesy. "It breaks my heart."

Investigators said the initial report about the crash came out around 6:50 p.m.

They said a ladder in the road caused the fire truck and another vehicle in front of it to swerve.

The CHP said the truck then collided with a nearby guard rail and overturned.

The CHP said six of the firefighters suffered "very serious" injuries while two others had minor injuries.

"You can only imagine how traumatic it is to see their brothers and sisters injured like that on the freeway," said Chief Fennessy.

The CHP is still investigating after issuing a five-hour closure of the freeway's northbound lanes shortly after the crash.