Trash Compactor Fire at Apple Valley Target Prompts Second-Alarm Response
Photo of fire crews working to extinguish the trash compactor fire at the Target store in Apple Valley off Pilot Knob, with help from Dicks Towing. Photo provided by the Apple Valley Fire Department.
Published: August 21, 2026
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA - Firefighters from Apple Valley and Rosemount responded Thursday afternoon to a confirmed fire involving a trash compactor outside the Target store along Pilot Knob Road, prompting a second-alarm response as crews worked to keep the flames from spreading to the building.
The Apple Valley Fire Department was dispatched around 1 p.m. on Thursday, August 21, 2026, to the Target at 15560 Pilot Knob Road for a fire on the northeast side, toward the rear, involving a trash compactor. Responding firefighters confirmed a working fire involving the compactor. The Rosemount Fire Department also responded to assist Apple Valley crews.
At approximately 1:21 p.m., the incident was upgraded to a second alarm, with additional Apple Valley firefighters called back to provide more personnel and resources.
Trash Compactor Pulled Away From Store
Apple Valley Fire Chief Matt Nelson said firefighters requested assistance from Dick's Valley Service to move the burning trash compactor away from the building.
According to Nelson, moving the compactor served two purposes: it gave firefighters better access to the fire and helped prevent the flames from potentially spreading into the Target store. Once the compactor had been moved a safe distance away from the building, crews with Dick's Valley Service tipped the container, allowing firefighters to gain better access to its contents and completely extinguish the fire. The response successfully kept the fire contained to the trash compactor.
Nelson said there were no injuries associated with the incident, and damage was limited to the compactor. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Apple Valley Fire Thanks Rosemount, Dick's Valley Service
Following the incident, the Apple Valley Fire Department publicly thanked the Rosemount Fire Department and Dick's Valley Service for assisting with the response.
“We are grateful for the strong partnerships we share with our neighboring departments and local businesses,” the department said in a Facebook post.
The department specifically recognized Rosemount firefighters for their mutual-aid response and Dick's Valley Service for helping crews safely move and tip the burning compactor, allowing firefighters to fully extinguish the fire.
The incident highlights the role mutual-aid departments and local businesses can play during emergency responses, particularly when specialized equipment is needed to help firefighters safely access and contain a fire. No injuries were reported, and officials said the fire did not spread into the Target store.
Written by: Will Wight
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