TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM STABILIZES VACANT HOME AFTER SEMI-TRUCK CRASH IN HOMES COUNTY
Holmes County, Fla. – A quiet afternoon at the intersection of County Road 179 and State Road 2 took an unexpected turn when a logging truck left the roadway and crashed into a vacant home, causing significant structural damage and a complex vehicle recovery operation.
Just after 2:30 p.m. on January 6, 2026, the Walton County Fire Rescue Technical Rescue Team (FL-TRT106) was activated after the semi-truck lost control when another vehicle pulled out in front of it. The driver sustained only minor injuries and was able to exit the vehicle before the team arrived.
While no one was inside the home at the time of the crash, the impact significantly compromised the structure’s stability. As a tow truck prepared to remove the logging truck, it became clear that pulling the vehicle free could cause the damaged home to collapse.
Within an hour of activation, nine members of FL-TRT106 were on scene, developing a stabilization plan. The team installed three vertical shores in key locations, reinforcing weakened areas and preventing further structural failure.
With the building stabilized, rescue personnel carefully removed entangled building materials that had trapped the semi-truck. This allowed the tow truck to safely extract the vehicle without causing additional damage to the home.
In just over two hours, the coordinated effort allowed crews to safely free the logging truck and clear the scene, all while preventing a partial collapse of the already-damaged home.
“This incident is a great example of why technical rescue training matters,” said Walton County Fire Chief Austin Pugh. “We were fortunate the driver made it out safely, and the home was vacant, but every situation like this helps our team practice the skills and decision-making that could one day save lives.”
