Burning Garbage Forces Driver to Dump Load in Apple Valley Street
Published: July 29, 2026
APPLE VALLEY, MN: A garbage truck caught fire Tuesday morning after its load ignited, prompting a response from the Apple Valley Fire Department and Apple Valley Police Department in the area of Upper 148th Street West and Diamond Path West.
According to the Apple Valley Police Department, the incident occurred at approximately 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, when the driver of a garbage truck discovered the truck's contents were on fire. Following established safety procedures, the driver dumped the burning load onto the roadway to prevent the fire from spreading to the truck. While the sight of a pile of burning trash in the middle of the street may have caught nearby residents by surprise, officials emphasized that this is the standard and safest course of action for garbage truck fires.
Firefighters with the Apple Valley Fire Department responded quickly and extinguished the fire before it could spread beyond the discarded load. Meanwhile, Apple Valley police officers established a safety perimeter around the scene while firefighters worked and cleanup crews began removing the debris.
No injuries were reported, and officials said the garbage truck itself was saved from significant damage.
The exact cause of the fire has not been confirmed, but authorities are reminding residents to use caution when disposing of potentially hot materials. Improperly discarded charcoal, fireplace ashes, smoking materials, or other heat-producing items can remain hot for hours and ignite trash once it is collected and compacted inside garbage trucks. With the region experiencing prolonged periods of extreme heat, officials noted that residents should ensure ashes, charcoal, and similar materials have completely cooled before placing them in the garbage.
The Apple Valley Police Department also took the opportunity to inject a bit of humor into the incident, joking that while temperatures have been high enough to make it feel like "it's hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk," residents should make sure their garbage isn't trying to do the same.
Cleanup operations continued Wednesday following the fire, and traffic in the immediate area was affected while emergency crews completed their work.
Provided by the Apple Valley Police Department.
Written By: Will Wight
