The Branson Fire Department is urging residents to watch what they throw away. That’s following an increase in commercial garbage truck fires in the city and in the surrounding area.
According to the City of Branson, the latest was Thursday morning when a driver was emptying a trash container along Highway 76 and noticed smoke coming from the compactor. He immediately dumped his load onto the parking lot at the new Visitor Center and called the fire department.
Firefighters kept the flames knocked down until a Public Works back hoe arrived to break the trash pile apart, officials said. Firefighters then used foam to completely extinguish the fire. The exact cause of the fire is unknown.
That was the third fire in one week for the company, WCA, and one truck was destroyed.
Branson fire officials are urging caution when disposing of items like cigarettes, ashes and other items that may smolder or spontaneously combust, including household chemicals.
The City of Branson offers ways to dispose safely of household hazardous waste. Learn more here.
