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Debris fire damages city truck

Merced Sun-Star Staff
Merced city workers attempt to extinguish a fire after debris caught fire in a city garbage truck at a lot near the Merced County Publics Works Center at the intersection of Wardrobe Avenue and Thornton Road in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, April 27, 2017. According to Mike Schlessinger, lead refuse equipment operator, the contents of the truck appeared to catch fire while driving after city workers removed items from two homeless camps. One of the camps was located near D Street and 15th Street with the other located near 15th Street and Canal Street. Merced City Fire responded to the call.
Merced city workers attempt to extinguish a fire after debris caught fire in a city garbage truck at a lot near the Merced County Publics Works Center at the intersection of Wardrobe Avenue and Thornton Road in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, April 27, 2017. According to Mike Schlessinger, lead refuse equipment operator, the contents of the truck appeared to catch fire while driving after city workers removed items from two homeless camps. One of the camps was located near D Street and 15th Street with the other located near 15th Street and Canal Street. Merced City Fire responded to the call. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com

Debris being carried by a Merced city refuse truck caught on fire Thursday, damaging the vehicle but causing no injuries, officials said.

The truck had been loaded with debris collected during a city clean-up of a homeless encampment on East 15th Street when something in the load caught fire, refuse supervisor Dan McComb said.

The vehicle pulled into a city lot near Wardrobe Avenue and Thornton Road. Two engines and six personnel responded, said Cory Haas, Merced Fire Department battalion chief.

Haas said the cause of the fire was unknown.

“It was fully loaded with debris and most of the debris had to be removed to fight the fire,” Haas said.

The vehicle sustained about $2,000 in damage, he said.

Haas reminded residents to be extra cautious when disposing of fireplace ashes or barbeque coals. Such debris should be stored in a metal container for one week and any ashes and coal should be dampened with water before disposal, he said.

This story was originally published April 27, 2017 at 5:34 PM with the headline "Debris fire damages city truck."

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