A fire last Wednesday night at Santa Monica’s City Yards off Michigan Avenue destroyed five garbage trucks and damaged a sixth.
According to City spokesperson Judy Rambeau, the loss has been estimated at $1.5 million.
The cause of the fire is being investigated. It occurred at the City’s alternative fuel CNG station, but, as it was designed to do, the station shut off and, contrary to earlier reports, did not catch on fire.
Five engine companies, and the hazmat and utility units, a truck company, with a total complement of about 22 firefighters, responded to the fire, and knocked it down in about 20 minutes.
The loss of the garbage trucks affected trash collection Thursday and Friday last week, but the City borrowed trucks from other cities and collections were back on schedule this week.The CNG station is up and running, but the area of the fire has been cordoned off while the insurance company conducts its investigation.