On Thanksgiving evening, a driver crashed into a waste pit at the Maynard C. Stiles wastewater treatment plant in North Memphis, causing a fire. According to Action News 5, the Memphis Fire Department responded and conducted a rescue to remove the driver from the truck, which had entered a pit containing flammable wastewater around sundown.
FOX13 Memphis reports that first responders arrived shortly after 6:00 p.m. to address the fire, which is believed to have started when methane from the pit combined with fumes from the vehicle. The fire stayed contained within a retention pod, and authorities reported no runoff or environmental issues. Firefighters monitored the air to ensure there were no public safety risks.
The driver survived the incident and suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, requiring hospitalization. As per Action News 5, MFD spokesperson Qwanesha Ward said firefighters had to enter the waste to rescue the driver before they were taken to the hospital.
Initial reports cited by WREG suggested the driver may have been intoxicated, but the Memphis Fire Department later stated they could not confirm this. Authorities focused on ensuring the driver’s safety and containing the fire, with no environmental concerns reported.
