Firefighters Respond To Garbage Truck On Fire On Lake Street

Firefighters remained on scene for over an hour performing overhaul and cleanup operations. Due to the large amount of garbage poured onto the parking lot, it was difficult to prevent fire from rekindling. MFD asked UW grounds workers to bring in an end loader or other equipment to help move the rubbish so it could be thoroughly sprayed down. Firefighters spoke to the driver of the garbage truck, who said his truck was almost full when he stopped by the 7-11 on State Street to get a drink. That's when a bystander told him there was smoke coming out of the cargo area of his truck. He tried to find a place to dump the garbage and found the lot at the 400 block of N. Lake Street. Damage to the garbage truck is estimated at $5,000; fire did not extend to the passenger area of the garbage truck. One vehicle parked in the lot suffered damage to the license plate holder but other nearby vehicles appeared unaffected. Advanced Disposal, the company that owns the garbage truck, provided a second dumpster where the burned garbage could be placed. Firefighters ultimately left scene at approximately 12:50 p.m.