Manchester Fire’s Engine 1, Ladder 1, and Car 3 responded today to a fully loaded trash truck fire. Thanks to the quick thinking of the driver, he was able to recognize the problem immediately and drive to an empty parking lot where he safely dumped the load — actions that very likely saved the truck from being involved.
With the truck emptied, our crews, with the help of Manchester DPW to spread out the burning debris, fully extinguished the fire. Trash fires are especially dangerous incidents because the contents are always unknown — everything from household chemicals to lithium batteries can be present, creating unpredictable fire behavior and potential explosion hazards.
We appreciate the teamwork displayed on scene and the support from our mutual aid partners at Hamilton Fire Department and Gloucester Fire Department, who provided station coverage for Manchester while our crews were committed.
