A garbage truck fire in northwest Sparks damaged two buildings Friday after the truck became fully engulfed and flames threatened nearby structures.
A large amount of smoke was visible on wildfire cameras north of Reno, prompting our news crew to head to the area.
Sparks Fire Department responded to the fire near Hug High School, with Reno firefighters assisting at the scene.
The Reno Firefighters Association and Sparks Firefighters said in separate online posts that crews found the garbage truck fully involved, with flames threatening multiple structures.
The first-arriving Sparks fire captain upgraded the response after crews discovered the truck was venting compressed natural gas, or CNG, toward nearby structures. Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire before it could spread to multiple units.
Two buildings were damaged, and some residents may be displaced, according to the Sparks Fire Department. No injuries were reported.
Sparks Fire Department said the fire is under investigation. Investigators on scene were working with Waste Management, which operates the garbage truck, while also trying to get in contact with the property owner or management. The truck was fully engulfed and would be towed from the scene.
Waste Management confirmed its driver was not injured and is safe.
The company said it has seen several fires linked to improperly disposed lithium batteries and increased concerns this time of year involving hot barbecue coals. However, Waste Management said the cause of this specific incident has not yet been determined.
An off-duty Reno firefighter also assisted crews by securing a water supply and capturing photos and video from the scene, according to Sparks Firefighters. The firefighter's photos and video are included below.
The investigation into the cause of the garbage truck fire remains ongoing.
(Sparks Firefighters and Reno Firefighters Association contributed to this story.)
