Firefighter puts out blazing tractor-trailer as 40,000 pounds of ribeye steaks go up in smoke

In a small town in Missouri, on a Monday morning, the Doolittle Rural Fire Protection District responded to an emergency call reporting a tractor-trailer engulfed in flames on Interstate 174. This unusual incident involved a massive load of 40,000 pounds of ribeye steaks. Probationary firefighter Jenna Ulrich, who is noted as the only vegan on the department, was on duty at the time. The fire quickly escalated as first responders approached the scene, which was characterized by thick black smoke billowing into the air. Video footage captured the firefighters arriving and gearing up to tackle the fire, which had already begun to spread. As the firefighters approached the blaze, Jenna Ulrich was utilized on the hose line, directed to spray water on the intense flames consuming the trailer loaded with beef. Her father, Glenn Ulrich, was also on scene, providing support. As they battled the fire, the department humorously acknowledged the irony of Jenna’s first call involving a truck filled with ribeye, underscoring the unique experience of a vegan firefighter. Fire officials later reported that the steaks were deemed a total loss as the flames engulfed the vehicle, resulting in a complete destruction of the tractor-trailer. The incident required both eastbound lanes of the interstate to be shut down during the firefighting operations, although remarkably, there were no injuries reported from the fire. The cause of the blaze has yet to be determined, adding an element of mystery to the incident. Notably, this marks not the first time that the Doolittle Rural Fire Protection District has been called to extinguish food-related fires, showcasing a strange but memorable pattern in their emergency responses. This event generated both serious and lighthearted responses from the community and the firefighting team. While the loss of 40,000 pounds of beef is substantial, the department's public relations efforts included humorous comments regarding Jenna's first experience, blending light-heartedness with professional urgency. The incident has drawn attention on social media, emphasizing the peculiar circumstance of a vegan firefighter extinguishing flames on a trailer loaded with meat, sparking conversations about food, firefighting challenges, and the unique stories within small-town emergency services.