Emergency plan works in Penticton garbage truck fire

PENTICTON – The crew of a Progressive Waste Solutions Penticton garbage truck learned the value in having an emergency plan in place during garbage pickup this morning.

Penticton Fire Department Capt. Blaine Dionne says the fire department responded to the parking lot of Kings Park in Penticton around 8:45 a.m., Sept. 30, after receiving a call of a garbage truck with its contents on fire.

“Their typical response is to find the nearest empty parking lot and dump their load to take away the danger of having their vehicle set ablaze,” Dionne says, noting the fire department arrived to find the strewn contents of the truck burning in the parking lot.

Dionne says two engines responded and crews were quickly able to douse the fire. The truck was spared any significant damage in the incident.

Progressive Waste will be bringing in another truck to pick up the debris, Dionne says.

“They’ve got a good plan in place. There was no property damage, and no one hurt, just a little mess to clean up,” Dionne says.

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