PUTNAM — Putnam Fire Marshal Scott Belleville determined that the fire that destroyed an articulated dump truck last week at the Putnam ash landfill was accidental.
Fire crews were called to the Putnam ash landfill just after 8 a.m. April 5 for a vehicle fire.  Firefighters found the engine compartment and cab of a large piece of yard equipment used to move ash engulfed by flames.
Workers had tried to put out the fire  using approximately 10 fire extinguishers without success.  Due to the location and lack of accessible water mutual aid from the East Putnam Fire Department was requested.  It took  a combined effort of the two fire departments using 25 firefighters and approximately 4,000 gallons of water to put the fire out.
Belleville said a hydraulic oil line sustained a catastrophic failure, spraying hydraulic fluid on the truck’s exhaust initiating ignition.  The fire rapidly grew in intensity as it was fueled by a steady steam of hydraulic fluid.   Damage to the 2011 John Deere 400D owned by AJ Letourneau Inc., a subcontractor to WIN Waste Innovations, is a total loss with an estimated value of $100,000.
The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was requested due to the large amount of diesel fuel and hydraulic oil carried in the dump trucks tanks.  Workers on scene were able to dam the hazardous fluids close to the burned truck to minimize the environmental impact.  Fortunately the fluids and runoff that were not contained flowed into the isolated truck wash holding tank where it could be pumped out.  A hazardous materials clean-up contractor was called to the scene to remediate surface materials affected.
No injuries were reported to employees or fire service personnel and the environmental impact is considered to be relatively minor.

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