July 4, 2012

5:39 PM

At 1:33 pm, Portland Fire Station 29 (Powellhurst) was dispatched to reports of a garbage truck on fire. When they arrived three minutes later, they found a garbage truck in front of Sunset Garbage Collection at 9035 SE Henderson Street with smoke and flames coming from the back.

Firefighters learned that the truck driver had been driving his route earlier when he observed used fireworks littering one of the streets. When he returned from dumping a load to resume garbage collection, he noticed that the fireworks had been cleaned up and thrown in a dumpster he was emptying into the garbage truck. A short time later, after he drove several blocks, he saw smoke coming from the rear of the truck and called 9-1-1.

When firefighters arrived they found that discarded fireworks had ignited a mattress and fire was spreading throughout the trash. They promptly extinguished the fire.

According to Portland Fire & Rescue Public Information Officer Lt. Michael Silva, "After setting off fireworks, it is extremely important that people soak them in a bucket of water to make sure they are completely extinguished before discarding them."