SAN ANGELO, TX — The fire truck found submerged in floodwaters next to the Bell Street overpass on the Houston Harte Expressway this morning did not belong to the San Angelo Fire Department—at least, not anymore.
According to San Angelo Police Chief Travis Griffith, the truck was a retired SAFD vehicle that had been sold to a volunteer fire department. How it ended up stranded in high water remains a mystery. Griffith noted that numerous volunteer fire departments and law enforcement officers from neighboring jurisdictions have converged on the area to assist with the flooding emergency.
From early this morning until the Concho River crested near Veribest around 5:30 p.m., the San Angelo Police Department fielded more than 1,000 calls for service—double the usual daily average of about 500. Griffith explained that about 60 percent of those calls resulted in active police responses, while many 9-1-1 calls during disasters tend to be duplicate reports. He estimated that 85 percent of his police force was actively engaged in handling incidents throughout the day.
Griffith did not speculate on how the fire truck and other vehicles became submerged at the Bell Street overpass. He noted that the intense rainfall and runoff into local streams and the Concho River led first responders, volunteers, and civilians to rescue numerous motorists trapped during the height of the flooding.
The Bell Street overpass sits roughly 3,000 feet east of where the East Ditch—or gully—crosses the Houston Harte Expressway. That drainage channel may have unleashed a surge of water onto the expressway. Even by noon, hours after the rain had stopped, the East Ditch remained a roaring river, funneling water from North Lake View southward. The expressway dips below the overpass, making it particularly vulnerable to flooding.
According to San Angelo Fire Chief Patrick Brody, although this pumper truck isn't his department's, the SAFD did lose two vehicles during flooding operations on July 4.
"We had 1 type 1 fire engine (regular fire truck) and 1 type 6 brush truck (F-550). Both stalled out in the water. Hopefully not much damage," the fire chief said.
The submerged firetruck on the Houston Harte Expy as seen in multiple social media posts on July 4, 2025. The firetruck did not belong to the SAFD.
A wide view of Home Motors picking up the flooded out cars and trucks that dared to go through the high water underneath the Bell St. overpass on the Houston Harte Expy. on July 4, 2025.
The firetruck after the water drained. It was a former SAFD fire truck sold to a volunteer fire department, Police Chief Travis Griffith guessed. It was not a SAFD truck and you can note that SAFD markings have been removed.
The firetruck after the water drained. It was a former SAFD fire truck sold to a volunteer fire department, Police Chief Travis Griffith guessed. It was not a SAFD truck and you can note that SAFD markings have been removed.
Looking west down the Houston Harte Expy from the Bell Street Overpass at noon on July 4, 2025.
Many Toter trash containers washed into the Houston Harte Expy, likely from the East Ditch.
On the east side of the Bell Street overpass were more flooded cars revealed after the flood waters receded.
On the east side of the Bell Street overpass were more flooded cars revealed after the flood waters receded.
A very large wrecker from Home Motors arrived at around noon on July 4, 2025, presumably to haul off the old fire truck.
A view of the southeast embankment of the Houston Harte Expy. where residential trash carts line the water line, displaying how high the water rose on July 4, 2025.
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