Santa Monica firefighters responded to a garbage truck on fire on Tuesday, but it was quickly extinguished with no injuries.
Santa Monica Fire Department spokeswoman Suzanne Post said Engine 3 responded to the area of 20th Street and Delaware Avenue at 12:38 pm under the command of Captain Matthew Hill.
“The Resource Recovery & Recycling occupants (driver etc.) of the truck noticed the load in the rear of truck was smoldering,” she said. “Once they dumped it out it spontaneously combusted due to increased oxygen that caused it to flame up.”
Post said the smoldering was from natural causes.
“Sometimes the load can get hot and smolder like this, however it is infrequent,” she said.
