2 injured in equipment fire at TK Tank Service near downtown Sumter

A fire that started when a skid-steer loader’s throttle stuck and caught fire ignited nearby objects and injured two people, fire officials say.

The fire was at TK Tank Service, which is at the intersection of Plowden Mill and Boulevard roads southeast of downtown Sumter. It escalated when the initial blaze caught a vat in the vicinity that held oil and water, according to Sumter Fire Department Division Chief Joey Duggan. A nearby truck also went aflame.

Duggan said two people who were on scene suffered burns in the incident, and they were both taken to the hospital with what immediately appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries.

The incident caused an estimated $100,000 in damage.

Between personnel from Sumter’s Headquarters, Manning Road and Alice Drive stations, volunteers and Shaw Air Force Base, Duggan said about 35 firefighters responded to the scene.