LOXLEY, Ala. — They were on their way to help others.

Then, they became the victims.

Rosinton Fire Chief Chris Warren said he and members of his department were traveling westbound on I-10, dispatched to help motorists who had gotten into a wreck in the eastbound lane. The department’s pumper, command Crown Victoria, and a smaller truck went out on the call.

They ran into heavy smoke and fog, Warren said.

“Suddenly, you couldn’t see two feet in front of you,” said Warren. “We had zero visibility.”

Warren said the smoke came from a “controlled burn” in the area.

The three Rosinton vehicles slowed, and had their sirens going and lights flashing, Warren added.

Then a truck and horse trailer appeared out of the haze.

“It was blocking both sides of the road,” said Warren.

The pumper slowed, hoping to stop and avoid the crash, Warren said.

But there was a heavy tractor-trailer coming behind the fire truck.

“I’ve got the give credit to the tractor-trailer driver,” said Warren, “He did an awesome job. He really tried to avoid the crash, but his wheels locked up on him.”

When the brakes of a tractor-trailer lock, physics takes over. The truck struck the passenger rear side of the truck, sending ladders attached to that side “30 feet down the road,” Warren said.

According to reports from the State Police, five accidents involving 27 vehicles happened on both sides of I-10 in that area around 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

No one was killed. Thirteen people were injured.

Another vehicle struck the rear of the pumper, pushing the deck plate that firefighters stand on to reach the top of the truck under the truck. One firefighter, Tommy Cottle, suffered a back injury in the crash. The truck’s in-dash radios went flying. Warren added that firefighters Jerry and Sue Booth were in the truck. According to Warren, the horses in the trailer only had minor injuries.

Warren, driving the Crown Victoria in the next lane, had troubles of his own. He swerved to avoid the truck, but hit another vehicle.

Both airbags in the 1998 car deployed. The windshield remained intact, but the front of the car crumpled. The driver’s side door won’t open fully. Warren added that a metal briefcase he stored in the trunk of the car has a large dent in it.

Warren suffered an injury to his right forearm. He has a removable cast on it now, and is scheduled to have further tests done this week to determine the extent of his injury. Cottle and Warren were treated at and released from Thomas Hospital that morning.

Despite their injuries and confusion from the crash, Warren says that all the firefighters started helping those involved in the crash, leading occupants of the vehicles up a hill away from the crash site.

“We could hear the vehicles crashing into each other,” Warren said.

Warren says he radioed the other Rosinton truck to stop traffic along the Interstate to keep other vehicles from becoming involved in the wreck.

It might have kept things from being worse. The occupants of that vehicle were Assistant Chief Brian Martin and Lt. Allen Ogle.

“They were at the 51 mile marker,” said Warren. “They were able to stop five tanker trucks. That was a lifesaver.”

Warren began calling other departments for help.

“We called Loxley, but they got involved helping the eastbound accidents,” said Warren.

In all, units from Elsanor, Gateswood, Styx River, Robertsdale, Seminole, and Spanish Fort responded to the accident. Officials from Escambia County in Florida shut down the Interstate, which was closed for several hours. Warren added later that Escambia County send apparatus and personnel to assist in the rescue effort.

“I think the other fire chiefs were listening to the scanner and were sending help before I called,” said Warren.

Medical teams set up shop at Exit 53, and the injured were shuttled to them. It was time for Cottle and Warren to get help.

I really didn’t want to go,” said Warren who said he returned to the scene after his injury was attended to. He says he’s been with the Rosinton Volunteer Fire Department since he was 18.

While the loss of the equipment is devastating to the volunteer fire department, Warren said that the department has other apparatus.

According to the State police here is a list of the people and vehicles involved in the accident:

Accident 1 involved six vehicles.

Kevin Garner, 45, of San Antonio, Texas, the driver of a 2005 Mercedes was not injured. His passengers, Demetria Garner, 47 and Jordan Garner, 7, both also of San Antonio, were taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.

Carl Stevens, 36, of Lithonia, Ga., was driving a 2007 International tractor trailer. He was not listed as injured.

Benson Goodwin, 67, of Robertsdale was driving a 2008 Suzuki Forester. He was taken to South Baldwin Hospital.

Robert Leyendecker, 67, of Peoria, Ariz., was driving a 1998 GMC pickup and was not injured.

Dorothy Myslak of St. Charles, Mo., driving a 2007 Hudani was not injured.

Ramiro Vidales, 39, of Pittsburg, Texas driving a 2003 Dodge pickup was also listed as not being injured.

Accident 2, at the 48.9 mile marker was a 12 vehicle crash.

Trail Hawthorne, 59, of Petal, Miss., was driving a 2007 Freightliner. He was not injured.

Michael Goodno, 38, of Vinemont, driving a 2005 Volvo tractor trailer was not injured.

Thomas Cottle of Robertsdale, 25, was driving a 1998 Freightliner fire truck.

Joseph Macks, 56, of Pensacola, Fla., was injured and taken to Sacred Heart. He was driving a 2000 Ford Explorer.

Shirley Royce, 52, of Bossier City, La., driving a 1995 Ford Ranger was taken to Thomas Hospital.

Mark Hicks, 50, of Lindale, Texas, was not injured; he was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe.

Gustavo Arteaga, 28 of Deland, Fla., was not injured. He was driving a 1999 Mitsubishi Montero.

Lynn Morgan of Robertsdale, 35, was injured and taken to South Baldwin Regional Medical Center. She was driving a 2006 Chevrolet pickup.

Dwayne Mills, 40, of Cantonment, Fla., was not injured. He was driving a 2005 Chevrolet pickup.

Jamie Robinson, 37, of Pensacola, Fla., driving a 2008 Nissan Pickup was injured and taken to Sacred Heart in Pensacola.

Christopher Warren, 29, of Robertsdale was driving a 1998 Ford Crown Victoria.

Dudley Sligar, 60 of Kingsland , Ga., was not injured. He was driving a 2008 Nissan pickup.

Accident 3 occurred near the 48.5 mile marker.

Garland King, 60, of Purvis, Miss., was not injured. He was driving a 2004 Ford pickup.

Kenneth Liao, 30, of Daphne was not injured. He was driving a 2006 Lexus. His passenger, Shellie Dangelo, 36, also of Daphne refused treatment.

Jerome Jordan,31, of Jacksonville, Fla., was traveling in a 2000 Ford van. He also declined treatment. His passenger, Jerome Jordan III, 6, is listed as refusing treatment.

Derrick Watson, 41, of Grand Bay was driving a 1998 Freightliner. He was not injured.

Accident 4 was a three-car wreck.

David Howard, 64 of Pensacola was taken to South Baldwin. He was driving a 1997 Mack tractor-trailer.

Jason Oliver, 32, of Jacksonville, Fla., was driving a 2004 Nissan Murano. He was taken to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.

Thomas Miller, 50, of Walton, Fla., was driving a 2008 Dodge pickup. He was not injured.

The fifth accident involved two vehicles.

Dan James, 50 of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. was not injured. He was driving a 1998 Dodge pickup.

Dennis Welter, 56, of Kenosha, Wis. was not injured. He was driving a 2009 Kenworth.