Fresno firefighters extinguish burning rubbish that ignited while being hauled in a Republic Services trash truck, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, near Blackstone and Herndon avenues. (GV Wire/Dean Kirkland)
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A Republic Services trash truck turned up the heat in an unexpected way at the corner of Beechwood and Sugar Pine avenues in Fresno at about 1:45 p.m. Thursday.
The truck driver noticed smoke wafting from his rig, and before he could say “dumpster fire,” passing drivers started waving him down.
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“The driver noticed the smoke just as others tried to get his attention,” said Josh Sellers, the Fresno Fire Department’s public information officer. “Luckily, he found an empty lot at Beechwood and Sugar Pine and dumped the load safely. The fire department was on it, containing the blaze before it spread.”
Here’s the kicker: The Republic drivers had a 4 a.m. training class Thursday on this exact scenario, dubbed “Hot Load.” The driver and all others involved were reported safe and injury-free.