Early scene after garbage truck fire, CNG explosion in Arlington Heights (CARDINAL NEWS). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Police, firefighters, and paramedics from Arlington Heights responded about 3:53 p.m. Friday, December 6, 2024 to a report of a garbage truck fire in the block of 500 North Derbyshire Lane in Arlington Heights. Engine 2’s crew on arrival reported flames showing from the rear of a garbage truck. Extra fire equipment was also assigned because the garbage truck involved with fire was powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Garbage truck fire, CNG explosion from ring camera in Arlington Heights on Friday, December 6, 2024 (SOURCE: Ring). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Arlington Heights Fire Department Battalion 1 reported at about 4:03 p.m. that a natural gas cylinder on the garbage truck exploded. No injuries were reported.
Debris fragments from ruptured black Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tanks were strewn throughout the neighborhood as far as 400 feet to the west from the garbage truck.
Paul Duchek witnessed the explosion, and said that the blast wave blew trees sideways like hurricane force winds. A fractured CNG cylinder launched into the side of his garage siding — damaging the wall. Also, a tank fragment was located at the northwest corner of Euclid Avenue and Wilshire.
Debris was also found as far as Hawthorne Street near Drury Lane — about 1,000 feet northeast of the garbage truck scene.
The police department reported that on Friday, December 6, 2024 at approximately 4:00 p.m., Arlington Heights Police and Fire personnel responded to a reported truck fire on Derbyshire, just south of Euclid. Upon arrival, and while assessing the scene, a portion of the truck exploded. The commercial vehicle is powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and operated by Groot Waste Management.
There were multiple first responders in close proximity when the explosion occurred, according to the Arlington Heights Police Department. Two police officers and one firefighter were injured by flying debris and post blast concussion, according to the Arlington Heights Police Department. The police officers and firefighters were transported by fire department ambulance to a local Emergency Department with non-life- threatening injuries.
Arlington Heights Fire Department firefighters aggressively attacked and contained the fire. Initially, investigators suspected that one of the CNG tanks exploded.
Aftermath of Garbage Truck Fire and CNG Explosion on Derbyshire Avenue in Arlington Heights with interview of witness of the explosion, Paul Duchek (CARDINAL NEWS). YouTube Tips ⓘ
The explosion was significant, according to police. Truck parts and fragments of the black CNG tanks were sent airborne, landing up to several blocks away. A shock wave caused substantial property damage in the immediate area. Adjacent single-family homes had sections of roof and siding blown off. Windows were shattered. The first-in fire engine (Fire Engine 2), which was parked behind the garbage truck was damaged with a shattered windshield. Also, a cab-mounted public safety radio was knocked off the console. Airbags on a squad car parked next to the engine activated and deployed. The firefighter that was injured was positioned near the fire engine.
Forensic technicians documented the scene using digital and drone photography, which included image collection and data collection from the destroyed garbage truck and damaged homes. Any resident who experienced damage to their home should call 911 to properly document the matter, according to the Arlington Heights Police Department.
Euclid Avenue (motor traffic and pedestrian traffic) was closed in both directions from Dryden to Windsor during the incident.
Mutual aid from nearby communities was used to support operations. Police officers from the Cook County Sheriff’s Police, Illinois State Police, Inverness, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling police departments assisted with traffic and crowd control. Rolling Meadows Fire Department sent an ambulance to the scene.
A heavy-duty wrecker from Hillside removed the garbage truck from the scene around 7:15 p.m.
Groot dispatched a clean-up crew and equipment to the scene. Groot removed residual content and debris that was on the street that was propelled onto adjacent residential properties and Derbyshire Lane.
Euclid Avenue and surrounding streets were reopened by 10 p.m. Friday night.
Residents in much of Arlington Heights, Prospect Heights and Mount Prospect heard the explosion. The Prospect Heights Police Department was notified through Northwest Central Dispatch of a vehicle explosion and fire in Arlington Heights the area of Derbyshire and Euclid Avenue. Early reports were that at a garbage truck struck or damaged a gas line that cause an explosion and vehicle fire; however the explosion was a CNG tank onboard the garbage. The CNG tanks are usually located on the top of the garbage truck where the trash is stored.
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Two police officers and one firefighter were hurt in a garbage truck explosion involving a CNG cylinder in Arlington Heights (CBS Chicago). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Garbage truck explosion in Arlington Heights injures three first responders, officials say (Eric Horng/ABC 7 Chicago). YouTube Tips ⓘ
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