A routine workday descended into chaos in Baton Rouge on Tuesday after a worker fell from a bucket truck that suddenly caught fire, leaving him with severe burns and in serious condition.
The dramatic incident unfolded around midday at a busy intersection, where stunned witnesses watched as flames erupted from the elevated bucket, sending thick black smoke billowing into the air above Baton Rouge.
Shocking video from the scene shows the bucket suspended over the roadway, fully ablaze as smoke poured skyward, forcing traffic to a standstill and drawing emergency crews within minutes. The worker, who had been inside the bucket when the fire broke out, fell from the truck during the terrifying ordeal.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital suffering from burn injuries and was later listed in serious condition, authorities confirmed.
Firefighters with the Baton Rouge Fire Department worked quickly to secure the scene and extinguish the flames, while investigators began piecing together what caused the sudden inferno.
Officials said an initial assessment points to a mechanical failure as the likely cause of the fire, though a full investigation is ongoing.
The unsettling scene left onlookers shaken, as what began as a routine job turned into a life-threatening emergency in a matter of moments.
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