Fire crews cut into trash truck to extinguish fire at Oregon elementary school

Eugene, OR – Fire crews responded to a smoking refuse truck at Edison Elementary after the contents of a Sanipac garbage truck began smoking Thursday afternoon.

Eugene Springfield Fire was alerted to the possible fire at approximately 2:15 p.m. and responded with two engines, a ladder truck and a battalion chief.

The truck’s hydraulic lift had failed, preventing crews from emptying the contents to access and extinguish the fire. Firefighters instead used circular saws to cut an opening in the top of the truck.

Crews then lowered a high-volume rotating nozzle into the truck’s trash compartment to extinguish the burning contents.

Firefighters also covered storm drain openings around the scene to prevent runoff from entering the stormwater system.

Eugene Springfield Fire said crews remained on scene along with Sanipac, school district officials and a private hazardous materials contractor to empty the truck’s contents and ensure the fire was fully extinguished.