Mission Wrecker’s Largest Heavy Recovery to Date
Sometimes, a recovery job turns out to be bigger than anyone could expect. That was exactly the case with a recent Helena heavy recovery operation our towing team at Mission Wrecker took on in Karnes County, TX. The disaster occurred on CR 303 near FM 627, right in between Ecleto, TX, and Helena, TX. What started with a single hydraulic hose touching the turbo or exhaust on a blender trailer’s motor quickly escalated into a raging fire that consumed everything in its path.
The Scale of Destruction
By the time we were called to the scene, the fire had completely engulfed the blender trailer. It had also spread to almost everything nearby. The damage was overwhelming, leaving behind nothing but bare metal. The blaze had scorched:
- 1 Blender Trailer
- 9 Frac Pump Trailers
- 11 Tractors
- 1 Flatbed Trailer
- 1 Dry Van Trailer
- 1 Sky Trac Forklift
- 1 Manifold Trailer
- Various other pieces of equipment scattered around the site
This was going to be one of the most extensive clean-up and recovery operations we had ever faced.
Bringing Out the Big Guns
Knowing the scale of this Helena heavy recovery job, we pulled together a strong team. Our operators assembled a fleet of heavy-duty equipment complete this operation. Over the course of six days, we had between five to eight team members on site at any given time. Here’s the equipment we brought in to tackle the job:
- 1 50-ton Rotator
- 1 35-ton Rotator
- 1 50-ton Heavy-Duty Wrecker
- 1 Landoll Tractor Trailer
- 2 Skid Steers
- 3 Roll-Off Dumpsters
- 1 Equipment Trailer
- 3 RGN Low Boy Tractor Trailers
With everything prepped and ready to go, we began the long process of clearing the site.
Clearing, Lifting, and Hauling
Handling this Helena heavy recovery job required methodical planning and careful execution. Here’s how it went down:
- Separating and Transporting Tractors:
We started by detaching all the tractors from the trailers. Once they were separated, we loaded them onto trailers for transport. - Clearing a Path:
While moving the tractors, we continuously used the skid steers to clear debris off the ground. This was essential for creating stable paths for our heavy equipment to travel without getting obstructed. - Winching Out Frac Pumps:
The next step was to winch the frac pumps out into open ground where their structural integrity was somewhat intact. Each frac pump weighed an impressive 98,000 pounds, so this task required precision and power. - Lifting and Loading:
Once the frac pumps were moved to a clear area, we used two heavy-duty rotators and one heavy-duty wrecker to lift them onto haul trailers. - Continuous Clean-Up:
Throughout the process, the skid steers remained in action, making sure our paths stayed clear and accessible. - Transporting Equipment to Mission Wrecker:
All units were eventually transported back to our Mission Wrecker location in Converse, TX, where they remain to this day, awaiting salvage.
Facing the Challenges
This Helena heavy recovery operation required precise coordination and constant adjustments. The work continued well into the dark, with our team fighting darkness and fatigue to get the job done.
From start to finish, this Helena heavy recovery operation took a total of six days, with our crew putting in relentless effort to handle one of the most extensive recoveries we’ve ever tackled.
No Helena Heavy Recovery Operation is Too Complex for Mission Wrecker
The fire left nothing but bare metal and frames. None of the vehicles or equipment was operable after the fire, so we towed everything for storage. To this day, the units remain at our Converse, TX location, awaiting salvage.
Sometimes, recovery work is about more than just clearing a road or pulling a vehicle from a ditch. This Helena heavy recovery had us deal with utter devastation, one step at a time.
