Trash Catches Fire In Garbage Truck During Routine Collection

The contents of a City of Madison garbage truck started to go up in smoke Friday morning, prompting a call for firefighters.

The truck’s operator noticed light grey smoke coming from the trash hopper on the top of his vehicle. He discharged his dry chemical fire extinguisher but that didn’t put the flames to rest.

Engine Company 10 met up with the garbage truck at the intersection of N. Sherman Ave. and Roth Street. Firefighters grabbed their bumper line and charged it with water and foam. After setting up a 16-foot ladder, they were able to discharge the water-foam mixture into the smoldering trash and use a pike pole to move the trash around, ensuring the fire was thoroughly extinguished.

The driver says he was picking up residential trash that day and he wasn’t sure what caused the fire. The vehicle was not damaged.