Large pile of rubbish ejected from bin lorry in Dunstable after catching fire
Fire crews were called to tackle a large rubbish fire in Church Street, Dunstable, yesterday afternoon (September 9).
The incident happened around 5.58am after a large pile of rubbish had been ejected from a bin lorry.
Firefighters separated the rubbish and dampened it down, before handing the incident back to the waste disposal company. The cause was accidental.
A spokesperson for Central Bedfordshire Council said: "The incident did not involve any Central Bedfordshire Council waste vehicles. The incident concerned a private sector commercial waste operator vehicle collecting waste from businesses and commercial premises.
"If a fire is suspected or found within a waste vehicle, it is standard practice for the contents of the vehicle to be emptied immediately. This allows the Fire and Rescue Service to safely access the affected material, fully extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading.
"The commercial waste operator carried out an initial clear-up of the material following the incident but left a significant amount of waste on the highway. As a result, Central Bedfordshire Council subsequently attended to complete the clean-up and ensure the highway was left clear and safe for other road users.
"We would like to thank Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service for their assistance in bringing the incident to a safe conclusion."
Luton firefighters were also called to Park Street in Luton at 5.36pm to deal with a bonfire in the back garden of a property. They used one hose reel jet to put out the burning household waste and insulation. The cause was accidental.
Firefighters from Dunstable and Luton fire stations also attended to property in Carrisbrooke Road, Luton, following reports that carpets and mattresses were on fire in the garden.
They were called at 6.46pm using one hose reel jet to put the fire out. The cause was accidental.