INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A massive firefighting effort involving over 10,000 gallons of water was required to extinguish a burning trash truck that paralyzed traffic on I-465 Friday afternoon.
According to the Indianapolis Fire Department, the incident occurred at approximately 1:48 PM on I-465 Southbound at Mile Marker 46. Crews arrived to find a Waste Management truck powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) heavily involved in flames. The fire, which originated in the cab, quickly spread to the cargo area, igniting approximately nine tons of compressed trash and creating a volatile situation near the high-pressure fuel tanks.
Firefighters faced significant tactical hurdles because the blaze destroyed the vehicle’s internal controls, preventing crews from dumping the trash to reach the seat of the fire. According to officials, crews had to use heavy ladder equipment to cut through the side of the truck while simultaneously locating shut-off valves for the CNG cylinders. To keep the fire from reaching the fuel tanks, firefighters continuously pumped water through an access hatch to manage the intense heat.
The mitigation process lasted over four hours as firefighters waited for a heavy wrecker team to pry open the rear of the vehicle. Once the trash was safely removed, crews utilized a specialized “cold fire” agent and thousands of gallons of water to ensure total extinguishment.
The driver of the truck managed to evacuate safely without injury, and the scene was eventually cleared after an exhaustive overhaul process that utilized a tanker-shuttle operation to maintain the water supply.
