Fire has industry rethinking guidance to dump burning trash

A deadly blaze that tore through a Southern California mobile home community this month started when a trash truck caught fire and the driver dumped the burning garbage on the side the road.

Now, the waste industry is reviewing longstanding guidance to drivers to dump burning trash to ensure their safety, limit truck damage and prevent explosions.

David Biderman, executive director of the Solid Waste Association of North America, says drivers need to be “particularly mindful” of weather conditions during a truck fire.

The discussion comes as fire-prone California braces for several days of hot, windy weather.

The fire Oct. 10 in Calimesa killed two people and destroyed dozens of mobile homes.