VIDEO: A massive pile of garbage was on fire next to a garbage truck. That was the sight Wednesday afternoon in the Mololani Community of Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
Kirk Tengan, general manager of West Oahu Aggregate Refuse Division, said the truck driver just finished servicing one of the sites when he smelled smoke.
He said the driver followed protocol and found a clear, open area to discharge the load to prevent the situation from escalating.
“You know, truck has fuel and everything. So it’ll just be a really bad, bad situation if the truck itself caught on fire,” said Tengan.
He added that they’ve had at least four other garbage fires in the last 12 months.
Michael O’Keefe, the deputy director for environmental services, which handles trash for the city, said they see these kinds of fires too.