A garbage truck explosion in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, injured two police officers and one firefighter on Friday, December 6, 2024. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. while authorities were responding to a report of the truck being on fire.
Body camera and dashcam footage released by the Arlington Heights Police Department captured the dramatic explosion. The force of the blast shattered windows in nearby homes and a fire engine, and caused damage to roofs and siding. Flying debris and the resulting concussion injured the three first responders.
The image above shows the garbage truck engulfed in flames prior to the explosion. (Arlington Heights Police Department)
This image captures the moment of the explosion, which sent a shockwave through the neighborhood. (Arlington Heights Police Department)
A dashcam image reveals the extent of the debris scattered throughout the area following the explosion. (Arlington Heights Police Department)
Authorities believe the explosion originated from uncontrolled combustion within the truck's hopper, which ignited its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tanks. A formal investigation into the incident is currently underway. Fortunately, none of the injuries sustained by the first responders are considered life-threatening. The firefighter has already returned to work, and the two police officers are in recovery.
