(June 27, 2009) -- LB firefighters -- who are trained in everything from CPR to chemistry -- showed applied their structural engineering skills in the predawn hours today (Sat. June 27) after a big rig truck crashed into a WLB business.

This is what happens when this...

LBFD photo

...crashes into this:.

LBFD photo

It's a the front of a 24-hour cafe in the 1700 block of West Anaheim Street...and it was occupied at the time.

Miraculously, the cashier wasn't at the register at the time...and other patrons were in other areas of the building. "Had this not been the case, the results could have been catastrophic," LBFD notes in a release.

LBFD photo

The release says the call came in shortly before 4:00 a.m...and on arrival Engine 3 found that the truck driver had "managed to back his rig out of the hole created by the impact."

LBFD photo

The release continues:

The building appeared to have sustained significant damage and the Long Beach Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue team was called out to provide shoring and building stabilization...The building department responded to check the structural integrity of the business.
LBFD photo
LBFD photo

The driver of the truck was transported by Rescue 13 to a local hospital with minor injuries. There was no report of fire and no other reports of injuries to civilians or firefighters.

A total of 16 firefighters responded to the incident. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.