Workers continue to sweep up shrapnel and trash from a trash truck that exploded in an Ace Hardware parking lot south of 86th St. on Westfield Blvd in Indianapolis, as investigators continue to collect information, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015. Windows were broken, cars were damaged and a firefighter was hit in the head with flying debris after five compressed natural gas tanks on a trash truck exploded on the Far Northside. (AP Photo/The Indianapolis Star, Kelly Wilkinson) NO SALES
The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indianapolis Fire Department says a trash truck fire caused five compressed natural gas tanks to explode and travel nearby, producing damaging debris.
Cap. Rita Reith (ryt) said the predawn explosions Monday sent one of the fuel tanks flying a quarter mile into the front yard of a middle school on the city's north side. She says two other tanks travelled 600 yards each, landing in parking lots.
Reith says the one firefighter was struck in the head by debris, knocking him into bushes but causing no injury. Damage included broken windows at three businesses.
Reith says the truck had just picked up trash from a hardware store when the driver noticed the rear of the vehicle on fire. Nearby power lines prevented him from dumping its trash load.
A trash truck is towed away from an Ace Hardware parking lot south of 86th St. on Westfield Blvd. in Indianapolis, as investigators continue to collect information about what happened in an explosion from that truck, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015. Windows were broken, cars were damaged and a firefighter was hit in the head with flying debris after five compressed natural gas tanks on a trash truck exploded on the Far Northside. (AP Photo/The Indianapolis Star, Kelly Wilkinson) NO SALES
The Associated Press