An unusual crash involving a fire truck and tractor trailer closed lanes a number of lanes on Highway 401 early Thursday morning.

Oxford County OPP responded to the collision in the westbound lanes of Highway 401, just east of the Drumbo cutoff (Oxford Road 22).

The collision, which involved a transport truck and a Township of Blandford-Blenheim Fire Department truck, occurred shortly after 5 a.m. Thursday morning

The fire truck, from the Drumbo station, had been responding to a collision on the eastbound 401 with its emergency lights activated, when the collision occurred.

Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Harmer says "Unfortunately we didn't have time to think as we were slowing we were rear-ended from the back."

The truck driver and one firefighter, who was a passenger in the fire truck, were transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. Both were treated and released.

Four other firefighters, including the driver, were not injured.

Harmer says "After the impact my priority was my firefighters in the cab and to make sure every one was okay there, we were out assessing the transport driver making sure he was good."

A second fire crew had to be called in to respond to the initial crash call and traffic in the area was reduced to a single lane for several hours.

No charges have yet been laid but the collision remains under investigation by the OPP.

Meanwhile the fire station is left assessing the damage. Fire chief Rick Richardson says "This truck, one year old and we've just replaced it."

If the pumper truck needs to be replaced, a new one would cost around $400,000.

Richardson adds that that stretch of Highway 401 is dangerous for both motorists and first responders, and he is constantly reminding his crew to be cautious.

"It's a very scary job. It's very scary for me because I worry about the firefighters out there."

Harmer and Richardson say the Drumbo fire station responds to about 90 collisions on that short 23 kilometre stretch of Highway 401 each year.

They want to remind drivers that they can be charged for driving to close to emergency vehicles or for not slowing down and pulling over.