Mystery water truck helps SFFD extinguish box van fire

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A box van somebody had been living in went up in flames on April 17, 2024. As I was filming the conflagration, a water truck with no markings suddenly pulled up and doused the burning vehicle with water. Was this an SFDPW vehicle working in concert with SFFD? Or did the truck's operator do this helpful thing with no forethought or orders to do so?
Regardless, it's a wonderful moment, unexpectedly caught on video.
EDITED TO ADD: Twitter user @nicedeela says the operator of the water truck is her husband, Julio Parra, owner of JP's Water Truck Services. She says he sprays construction sites for dust control, and this is the third fire he's helped to extinguish.

[@TheMrDarius]

You know that water truck driver been waiting his whole career to be able to do something like that.

[@gastonbell108]

I think it is a municipal sanitation truck for washing the streets and sidewalks - I've seen similar ones, and they can only spray sideways.

[@TheMrDarius]

Yeah but that guy was waiting to be able to do that lol

[@karlo167]

Cue Avengers theme music!

[@james6275]

lololol thats funny I agree

[@MindCrime550]

This was the third time he.. a single water truck.. without being dispatched by emergency services has done this..

[@WelchsGrapeJuice]

That red car driving over the fire hose sums up how clueless people act around an emergency scene.

[@Sunset4Semaphores]

#shitizen

[@MikinessAnalog]

Some can be driven over, but that kind is expensive, and even then when they are pressurized so it doesn't create folds / creases. Still a lame and impatient move.

[@YourBestFriendforToday]

The amount of water that thing put on target in 5 seconds was stellar

[@TheoreticalString]

You could absolutely tell that truck operator had been dreaming about doing that for YEARS. Was like "hell yeah, I've been arguing with my buddy Steve since 2012 if we could put out a fire with this thing."

[@rapid3638]

@@TheoreticalString You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. Cause opportunity comes once in a lifetime. - Marshall Mathers

[@GETSOMEIndia35]

@@YourBestFriendforToday yah why can’t the FD Run GPM LIKE THAT ???

[@romeo2473]

The water truck driver has been waiting all his life for this.

[@robinparra2549]

Very proud step-mom here....good job Julio ....This is not his first or second time doing this kinda thing....he's put field fires out to keep homes from burning down! Kid found his knack.❤

[@user-uz2wy2cj3z]

I don't know him, but I'm proud of him all the way in Arkansas. Thank you Julio for doing what you do. Y'all come see us, we'll leave the gate open...

[@steveogee7458]

God him❤️🙏

[@steveogee7458]

God bless him❤️🙏

[@ProjectLifeNetwork]

what a lucky mom you are to have such a conscientious son..

[@localj9369]

I'm a firefighter and that waterguy is the MAN!!

[@whoknows386]

Topped off up the street buddy hit him up on the Nextel Chirp chirp: hey Steve got a car B Q over here Chirp chirp: on it boss Chirp chirp: thats how business gets done

[@TheCarson116]

@@whoknows386 Sadly Nextel's no longer a thing & Retrobrands' attempt at bringing it back seemingly failed thanks to the idiots/jerks at first Sprint & now T-Mobile.

[@whoknows386]

@@TheCarson116 I know

[@tarawaukeri8928]

Thank you for your services 🙏

[@yeoldeseawitch]

@@tarawaukeri8928 don't thank him he doesnt need praise he just does a job like everyone else he isnt special

[@circuitstar2222]

My man been waiting his whole water truck life for that moment.

[@HANKTHEDANKEST]

Everybody who's ever worked on a construction site already loves the water truck guy, but this dude is extra. What a G.

[@freedomfalcon]

>Rolls up. >Puts out fire. >Refuses to elaborate. >Leaves.

[@chrisp9433]

Liability, the Meth truck owner is gonna try to sue for water damages to his box truck

[@Jas_01101]

SF will put him in jail for not being a certified firefighter.

[@BrynhurstSixOwe]

🤣🤣 Gaytown of America, seems legit

[@hankwilliams-hx9ww]

😂🔥

[@ProjectLifeNetwork]

you're stupid.. they aren't gonna do sh@t

[@joeycamerota9695]

Wasting water during a drought. Fine $250 per gallon cash credit or debit card plus two years probation. 😂😂

[@robertmoir5695]

What makes you say that number 01101 ?

[@marathonhero]

WATER TRUCK DRIVE HAS BEEN WAITING 37 YEARS TO DO THIS.....FIRE OUT, LETS ROLL !!!!!!!!!!

[@godw1ll99]

dude completed that like a gta side mission.

[@keithwebster7118]

That water truck driver has been dreaming about this for years......he went home happy that day!

[@BrotherExperimentus]

Yes, he got to start a fire then waited for the exact moment the FD would arrive so he could show them up because he was rejected from being a firefighter due to his psychological test scores... he had his revenge this day and reveled in the glory! JUST KIDDING.

[@clintstegall1069]

Like the old saying goes,” if you want something done right, do it your damn self,” this beers for you Mr. Water Truck Fire Putter Outer Man.

[@staudtj1]

Perfectly Put

[@MrWackyfunster]

The guy in that water truck has been fantasising about this day since he started driving that piece of equipment. Guaranteed!

[@kungfucommando1642]

Fireman are watching and thinking, “Hey chief, we need one of THOSE”

[@cjritchie9701]

Yeah no. Any truck from the 80s has that capability and much more.

[@ZeroFoxENT]

dude has been waiting his whole career for that moment,

[@TrunkyDunks]

I was thinking the same thing. He'll be talking about it for decades now

[@ShelbyvsViper]

Amazing what a 4000 gallon water truck and an experienced operator can do in short order!

[@peadookie]

Respect and love to the firefighters, but that man just did 15 people’s job without getting out of his truck or turning off his AC.

[@cjritchie9701]

Not quite. There is much more work to be done. That fire is not out.

[@peadookie]

@@cjritchie9701 it was a joke, bro. Said as frmr EMT.

[@John-Smith02]

​@@peadookiethe original comment doesn't sound sarcastic so it's definitely understandable of CJ's response.

[@danieldbeavers]

My guy has been dreaming of this day since the first time he got behind the wheel of that water truck and the moment finally presented itself.

[@vanapplegate]

That man has been waiting for this moment his whole adult life.

[@Brownshabsfan]

The driver of this water truck has been waiting for this moment his entire career!

[@katyair1]

Maybe the fire department should buy a water truck, that seemed pretty efficient he didn't even have to get out of the truck no hoses no problem.

[@cjritchie9701]

You ain’t putting out 99 percent of fires by not getting out the truck kid

[@katyair1]

yes but that 1%,the rest of the time they could drive down the street on poop Patrol just open up the line and wash it all down that is San Francisco@@cjritchie9701

[@codyking4848]

Bro understood the assignment. Dude's a superhero, putting out fire around the city, then just rollin off scene. What a Chad

[@bwiese5387]

That guys been waiting his whole career for that moment!!

[@rockosgaminglogic]

The google maps car driving past was priceless. "Just an average day in SF."

[@timtutiul1737]

Damn the FD needs a few of those

[@Aero_Rc.]

Water truck been waiting for this moment all its life

[@zentran2690]

Bro waited his whole life for this moment.

[@thelonelyone9895]

Can we appreciate the guy in the truck with the powerwasher on the back also slowing down and seeing if they could help as well?

[@bluefe8545]

I think that’s a public works truck that usually drives around watering the trees on the streets.

[@babawali3021]

Nope. See edited video description.

[@BartonHans]

I don't know who the guy in the water truck was but he sure saved that motorhome and prevented that fire from getting much, much worse.

[@chrisfairfield1929]

Dude driving that water tender had been waiting for that moment his entire time assigned to that truck. 😅😅😅

[@evanlim8360]

I love that there's a vigilante fireman out there wandering the streets

[@JayLupe]

Homie made those firefighters look like a pewee baseball team on their first game😂

[@theKushKangaroo]

Water truck driver been waiting for this exact moment his entire life.

[@ItsEricAZ]

That water truck driver needs a medal for his willingness to help out!

[@AlphaFox38]

carries more water than them, responds faster than them, gets paid WAY LESS than them. HERO.

[@cjritchie9701]

Jesus you don’t know shit about fire fighting lol

[@cjritchie9701]

That’s a dumb ass comment right there. Congrats

[@heraclitus6100]

Well that was efficient. I think my tax dollars would like to have a conversation about this.

[@cjritchie9701]

Try that on a house fire buddy

[@Dukes3677]

The truck driver/owners name is Julio Parra! He sprays construction for dust control according to the description. 3rd time, he's assited in a fire.

[@Ntmoffi]

Woo hoo Julio! Great job dude!

[@ARockRaider]

i wonder if he has a scanner or if he just happened to be passing by there and said "hay i can help!"

[@ProjectLifeNetwork]

good job Julio..

[@ncc74656m]

That water truck just pulls away like "My work here is done. Boys, I leave the cleanup to you!"

[@JK-zx3go]

The number of drivers seeing that and then just turning right anyway is amazing.

[@sladelewis2421]

This dudes been waiting patiently for this exact moment.

[@ptaylor4923]

Apparently not. It's the 3rd fire he's helped put out. 😃

[@jerryfrederick6610]

The driver / operator of the water truck was a pro, they knew exactly what they were doing and the full capabilities of the equipment. Great job.

[@UAL012]

Buy the guy in the water truck a beer. That was pretty cool

[@nickrile]

Hope SFFD offered him a refill, and a cold beer! Great work by a good Samaritan

[@oGzeR707]

That’s my Brother Julio’s water truck! J.P.’s water truck services.

[@sicsempertyrannis1849]

I called in a fire while working on a construction site. Water truck showed up soon thereafter for dust control, he drove across the street instead and put out a tree and building that were on fire in no time at all. Was pretty cool to watch, the experienced ones can control the spray really well.

[@michaell9464]

He had that fire put out before the firefighters got their hoses out.

[@curiousnomadic]

Well that guy just showed the firemen of the world what kind of kit they need to upgrade to ASAP!

[@cjritchie9701]

Any truck has that ability. Goes to show how little you know about fire

[@curiousnomadic]

@@cjritchie9701 If that were the case then they'd all have trucks like that. Goes to show how little you know about trucks.

[@cjritchie9701]

@@curiousnomadic lol. You don’t fight fires like that and you can’t. Any fire truck from the 80s has that capability lmao

[@KonaFocus]

$100 bill says the driver got fined for “interference of official emergency service personnel.”

[@rickjames553]

Doubt it. We ask construction and county maintenance trucks all the time in my county. Makes the job easier.

[@jeb6361]

Article has been updated. No charge for the driver. You have cash app or paypal?

[@brianlofton2489]

Maybe the Fire Departments should consider this in their equipment arsenal!

[@sasastankovic8760]

In true American fashion he will probably get sued for causing water damage to that RV 🤣

[@colwilliamnoydb4134]

Those side spraying trucks are used for commercial development and areas that need water for growing new grass and many other applications. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

[@josegardead8946]

Only for construction dust control enforced by city

[@amzarnacht6710]

That was a construction support vehicle. They work all sorts of places watering down dusty construction areas to minimize the mess made to surrounding properties. Driver saw a problem, perhaps following the fire truck, and stopped to help out.

[@pamelagarcia513]

That’s myyy son who did that, way to go honey ❤

[@SiikPros]

Awesome stuff, mom!

[@tkx86]

Tell him his a good man. Cheers from an Aussie truck driver.

[@Simulatorgaming-fs]

All those firefighters excited for JOB TOWN just to watch a random water truck pull up and put the fire out lol. The disappointment they must've felt.

[@onthegrind7]

The fire department may need to purchase some mini water tankers.Very effective!

[@honesty0]

The government controlled fire department would still have to look at the fire for 30-minutes before taking action. Defund the government.

[@bondoly66]

Fire fighter: That's a bad fire Water truck driver: Hold my beer

[@andypelphrey8487]

Water truck driver looked at firemen and said “cute outfit” as he drove away 😂

[@kymhaniford]

LOL Don't worry guys... I got this ;)

[@rustyshackleford5509]

Water truck straight clowned the fire department.

[@cjritchie9701]

Not even close lmao

[@francoisgrimard5816]

Man’s been waiting for this moment his whole career 🫡

[@battlesqueak5838]

When seconds count, the foundation savers can’t be bothered. Good on that water truck. There are some decent people in society

[@Dan007UT]

that dudes been waiting his whole life to do that

[@victorharden5906]

I have a deep appreciation for first responders. Although it seems it takes firefighters, some time to get to the scene of a fire, it would make perfect sense to employ/deploy these water tanks to a scene as well. Smart move by the tanker driver and kudos for the help.

[@mexykpietrov]

Dude was waiting for this moment his whole truck driver’s career 🤣

[@Letsgobrandon827]

The guy took all the glory and dipped out before the cleanup started. God mode.

[@jankwiatkowski1153]

Not all heroes wear capes. Some drive white water trucks.

[@AriesBrooks]

Who's the genius in the red car that ran over the water hoses ? 🙄 Thank you Mr. Water truck for helping 💦 👍😁

[@skullhelmet1944]

Yea then they stop to get a picture I swear we gotta thin the herd

[@darylovaltine]

@@skullhelmet1944You can’t see them take a picture. They were most likely stopped and told to go back by the fire crew.

[@skullhelmet1944]

@@darylovaltine Well I was just going by the most likely scenario as seen by myself from day to day. However there is a small chance you are correct

[@patrickzaugg5684]

@@skullhelmet1944 i mean, what happened is on video, you see someone stop the car and make it reverse

[@FiveSeven2JZ]

Someone give that water truck person a raise!

[@VGMurders]

I’ve driven my share of water trucks. No doubt this guy was more than happy to help out.

[@bpd231martinko9]

Water truck driver to firefighters: "Hold my beer while I take care of this""...

[@JtM8292]

🙌🤣💯💯🍻

[@patriot1902]

Good one. LMAO

[@phillipjennings8935]

He drove away like he was afraid the city would send him a bill for excess water usage 😂

[@Ben942K]

illegal dumping 💀🤣

[@mikeundcris]

They should have given him a junior firefighter badge sticker afterwards! ^^

[@branchandfoundry560]

Water Buffalo driver should hand the FD guys Jr. badges and escort them to the nearest Continuing Education class.

[@jaycran6958]

I feel like they are pissed, they’ve been sitting around waiting for a working fire all day 😂

[@liamjohnson2474]

Julio had that fire under control in under 30 seconds. The fire department needs to invest in some of those water trucks as fist responders to a scene.

[@dallen2926]

I will never tire of people helping people.

[@wonderbrat26]

That’s Julio Parra at JP’s Water Truck Services. There was another video posted on Citizen as it was happening. This isnt the first fire he has helped put out over the years.

[@Ortian9]

That driver is Julio Parra, owner of JP's Water Truck Services. He normally sprays construction sites for dust control, and this is the third fire he's helped to extinguish. And he helps the FD, like they knew he was there, his truck was driving behind the fire truck as seen in the video.

[@NickRanger]

What a hero!!

[@stevenandrews6627]

Julio.... you're a Stand Up Guy. Good on you!!!!!

[@YAHaqabNatsariym2701]

Now this is how you do business! Help the community! So many get into business to help themselves to a piece of fake pie. But not to build and serve the community! And many businesses put up with bad community tyranny for fear of losing that money! Julio has the right concept here!

[@philipchesley9615]

I've run water trucks for about50 yrs (retired) and this is my proudest thought on it that Julio steps up with SFFD as a regular. The side spray is our main weapon. JP's probably has a truck with a water cannon that's just as effective but it can be aimed quickly and moved from inside the cab. Cheers JP's!!!!!!!!

[@nothere7198]

If that's the facts it changes the whole story.

[@penelopelgoss2520]

Thank you water truck driver. It would have taken FD another 3 - 5 minutes to get the flames out. Great thinking!!!!!

[@svtford4212]

Didn't even leave his truck to be a hero.

[@SnowPiercer1975]

Lol, dude swooped in like Batman ...saved the day and bounced 😂

[@rebelroar78]

That’s just a construction water truck. They’re used to spray water on demolished buildings to keep dust down, or dry soil used to build roadways and foundations to make it compact better.

[@kkaidk5692]

As a retired firefighter those guys were pissed, as an ordinary citizen that was awesome the guy should get a metal for out of the box thinking. If I was in the truck I would have done the same thing. This was fun to watch.

[@Devil914]

Why would they be pissed? I'm genuinely just curious.

[@randykitchleburger2780]

​@@Devil914That was their fun to have haha

[@Stargazzer811]

@@Devil914 You have to understand with firemen, we don't want things to start on fire, we really don't. In fact we'd love it if things wouldn't because that means people would be ok and everything would be right in the world. But when something starts on fire, we'll be damned if we let someone else prevent us from using all the training we've been given to put it out. Its an odd dichotomy, but thats how it is. When the bell rings out a Job, we go to Jobtown!

[@Devil914]

@@Stargazzer811 that's fair. I'm a dispatcher (not 911) and send police and fire to a lot of calls, especially false alarms. I think they would be more pissed at FA's than anything.

[@Devil914]

@@randykitchleburger2780 that's understandable but then again if it was your house, car or whatever, I'm sure you'd want it out sooner than later.

[@outlawbillionairez9780]

"WHO ARE YOU!!????" "I'm Watertruck Man! "

[@jhonsonmojica9061]

Bro said " I am the fire department "

[@MrElkslayer7]

I'm thinking the fire department needs to add a new piece of equipment to their arsenal. Looks like it works pretty good for vehicle fires.

[@cjritchie9701]

Fuck that

[@pudster4115]

That wasn't that water-tenders 1st rodeo...he had some skillz.

[@whuffer5103]

You know how long that mystery water source has been dreaming of something like this??!

[@anydaynow01]

Definitely deserves the good guy of the day award!

[@Truccinwithlumberjacc]

As an EX water trk driver I always wanted to do this !!! We had 6000 gal water trks and had cannons mounted on top as well as the sides and a hose in the rear. I salute fire fighters because the pressure coming out those hoses are something serious!!

[@SCWgreg]

When a water truck makes a fire engine look like it’s playing with a garden hose.

[@cjritchie9701]

Any truck from the 80s could do what that truck did and much more lmao

[@user-nz4si7kp3m]

4:18: random water truck arrives on scene. 5:29: fire 90% contained. that's an operator right there 👏👏

[@MrTomjolly]

100%

[@dogmandan79]

4 min for the FD to arrive, 3 AMR medical vehicles pass by, and this guy appears, solves the problem and leaves.

[@jonathanbair523]

Good thing that fire was not a chemical fire like phosphorus... Water would have just spread the fire to a bigger area....

[@mttw]

⁠@@jonathanbair523 A common vehicle fire is almost always extinguished with water. Why do you think a pumper truck showed up? Also, do you honestly think a box truck would be transporting phosphorus? Give your head a shake.

[@plasma_45]

Bro water truck just rolled in and said 'Go back to the station, I got this'.

[@DeLuchs]

Looks like a construction truck used to water down work sites to keep dust and dirt wet and out of the air. Another reason I'd think so is because I'd assume it and that white ford pickup around 4:45 are related, and the Ford is clearly from some sort of construction crew.

[@WhatTheTarnation.]

Whoever was driving that tanker truck, respect! Way to pay it forward. If only there were more of you ln this world. Pray you and yours' are well.

[@Adones09]

May that Driver never find their cup or bed empty.

[@ogxs1433]

All fire stations should have an inexpensive water truck in service...

[@thomasbarrett6845]

That water truck is a certified badass