“Smart Driver” dumps burning load into empty lot

A Burrtec dump truck driver did the right thing by dumping his burning load in a lot in Cathedral City, says Cathedral City Fire Department.

According to Cathedral City Fire Chief Paul Wilson, they got a call around 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, that a dump truck was on fire on Peladora Road.

When the arrived on scene they saw a burning pile of trash in an empty lot, and the truck smoking on the roadway.

“The driver did the right thing by dumping his load in the lot,” says Wilson. “He saved the truck from catching on fire which have could have resulted in a bigger incident.”

Firefighters were dousing the smoldering trash with water and foam and they were waiting for a front loader to help spread the trash out to completely stop the burning. Peladora Road was blocked while crews worked to put out the flames. There were no injuries.