A street sweeper caught fire in Decatur yesterday afternoon at the corner of Hilldale and Shadowmoor.
Joseph took this photo (above) and video (below) yesterday as Decatur Fire Department fought the blaze. You can see an explosion from the vehicle at the very end of the video. A report on Facebook said there were two explosions as the truck burned. He reported that the Fire Department spent “all afternoon and night cleaning it up and they did a very good job.”
Very dramatic footage. We’ve heard initial reports that there were no injuries, but I’m double-checking with the Fire Department. UPDATE: DFD has confirmed there were no injuries.
What makes a street sweeper catch on fire?
I understand that something underneath it caught fire and spread up to the truck.
It’s the only street sweeper Decatur has, so i guess the streets will go unswept for a while.
It looks like this could have been much worse, so glad nobody was hurt in the mishap.
Steve, you note that this may put the truck out of commission for a while but I have to wonder? This truck is supposed to sweep the streets in our neighborhood every third Thursday but there’s only been evidence of this happening about twice this entire year. I’ve never seen a sign alerting neighbors of its coming, so people could move their cars off the streets. Is this street sweeper put into use every day of the week?
You’d have to direct that question to Public Works.
Decatur Fire Department has confirmed that there were no injuries associated with this fire.
I have lived in Decatur for 20 years and this the the 2nd street sweeper that I know of that has caught on fire and been distroyed.
There will be a sad sad void at Touch a Truck this year. My three year old will be crushed at this loss.