Fire causes $3M in damage to Scottsdale, Arizona, garbage trucks

Twelve waste collection trucks were damaged or destroyed in a fire at a maintenance facility for fleet vehicles in Scottsdale, Arizona, reports the Scottsdale Progress.

The blaze was caused after a city garbage truck caught fire around 3 a.m. on Jan. 3 at Scottsdale’s North Corporate Yard located near 90^th Street and Loop 101. A police officer who stopped at the facility to refuel his patrol vehicle first noticed the fire and reported it, city spokeswoman Erin Walsh said.

Scottsdale and Phoenix fire departments responded to the call and found six garbage trucks that run on compressed natural gas (CNG) on fire. Deputy Chief Kerry Swick said investigators believe the fire started in the battery compartment of one of the trucks.

“The exact cause is unknown but foul play is not suspected,” Walsh said.

After arriving on scene on Jan. 3, fire fighters secured the main gas line and the department’s Hazardous Materials team later completed air monitoring and confirmed there were no leaks from any tanks on the waste collection vehicles, according to the department.

The city was able to continue trash service for residents with no disruption thanks to help from other Valley cities, including Peoria, which loaned 10 trash trucks to Scottsdale last weekend, the Scottsdale Progress reports.

Walsh said service to 50 commercial customers was delayed by one day.

“Scottsdale Solid Waste thanks the cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Peoria for providing loaner vehicles that are helping the city continue to serve its customers,” she said.