Multiple garbage trucks destroyed in fire

HARRISTOWN, Ill. (WAND) — Several garbage trucks are now unusable after a fire early Monday morning.

Firefighters with the Harristown Fire Protection District responded to the Waste Management facility off of Bear Road just before 1 a.m. Once on scene, they found multiple trucks on fire with thick black smoke billowing into the air. The fire was large enough to warrant an additional response from Warrensburg, Niantic and South Wheatland firefighters.

Firefighters cleared the scene just after 3 a.m. One firefighter was treated at a local hospital for heat stress, but otherwise no other injuries were reported. Fire investigators say at least eight garbage trucks were either destroyed or sustained some type of damage.

The facility released the following statement regarding the incident: 

"WM experienced a fire at our Decatur, IL district early Monday morning that resulted in damage to five of our collection vehicles.   We were able to transfer collection vehicles from our other locations to Decatur allowing the team to service our customers as scheduled on Monday.  All collection routes are running on their normal schedules. 

We appreciate the quick response by the local volunteer fire departments that responded to this incident."  

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is now investigating what sparked the fire, but investigators don't believe the cause was intentional at this time.