A routine trash run turned into a sunscreen-fueled headache for Speedway firefighters on Thursday, when a garbage truck caught fire on 10th Street and crews discovered the load held more than 600 aerosol cans of sunscreen that made the blaze tougher to knock down. The department said firefighters ultimately extinguished the fire and that no injuries were reported. Officials have not yet released a suspected cause.
Speedway Fire Department Account
In a Facebook post, the Speedway Fire Department said crews were dispatched to a trash-truck fire on 10th Street and quickly realized they were dealing with "challenging conditions" because of the number of aerosol cans packed into the load. The post states that more than 600 cans of sunscreen were involved and that firefighters brought the incident under control with no injuries reported.
The department added that the presence of pressurized cans stretched out the time it took to fully extinguish the smoldering trash, since crews had to account for cans that could suddenly rupture. The Facebook update includes photos from the scene alongside the department’s brief summary of the response.
Why Aerosol Cans Make Trash Fires Dangerous
Aerosol cans are pressurized containers that can rupture when exposed to heat, releasing both propellant and product that may ignite or create flying metal fragments. That combination complicates firefighting and increases safety risks for crews working close to the flames.
Federal safety guidance warns that heating aerosol containers can cause them to burst or generate fireballs, which can change how firefighters approach suppression on scene. For more detail on the hazards and regulation of aerosol containers, see guidance from OSHA and the aerosol-can universal-waste rulemaking at the EPA.
How To Dispose Of Aerosol Cans In Marion County
In Marion County, local household hazardous waste programs accept aerosol cans at scheduled ToxDrop events, which are run so residents do not toss pressurized containers into curbside trash. The City of Indianapolis lists aerosol cans among accepted household hazardous waste and publishes monthly drop-off locations and contact information for residents.
Bringing unwanted or partially used aerosols to a ToxDrop or similar household hazardous waste event helps cut down on dangerous trash-truck fires during collection rounds. Residents can find details in the ToxDrop materials from the City of Indianapolis.
The Speedway Fire Department’s Facebook post remains the primary source of scene photos and incident details. In that update, the department does not identify any specific cause for the fire.
