Dozen CA Firefighters Evaluated after Garbage Truck Blast

An explosion of a burning garbage truck severely damaged a fire apparatus and sent a dozen California firefighters to the hospital as a precaution Monday.

CAL FIRE/Riverside County crews responded shortly after 10:30 a.m. to a fire that broke out in the trash compartment of a C&R garbage truck in Temecula, The Press-Enterprise reports. As firefighters were working to put out the flames, a liquid propane tank on the truck exploded.

The explosion tore off a part of the apparatus' hose bed and caused minor damage to another rig. The blast also sent the tank flying 100 to 200 feet into a commercial van, injuring a person.

Following the explosion, 12 firefighters were taken to three hospitals to be evaluated.

“Their ears were ringing” but there were no obvious injuries, said Capt. Richard Cordova, a Cal Fire spokesman.