Meth lab refuse ignites fire aboard garbage truck

JONESBORO, Ark. -- A sanitation driver had to dump the flaming contents of his garbage truck in a church parking lot after methamphetamine components among the refuse ignited.

Officials said the chemicals had been left in a city-owned garbage can.

Driver Robert Hester said he first thought the truck broke a hydraulic hose but, when he took a look, he saw the fire. He said a fire extinguisher did no good, so he had to deposit the burning garbage at the North Main Baptist Church.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze before it spread through the pile filled with Christmas wrapping paper, remnants of Christmas dinners and other household waste.

Lester Gill, city sanitation route supervisor, said Thursday's incident wasn't the first time his drivers have come across meth components. But the fire was a new twist.

Police said with Hester's help they were able to determine the block -- on French Street -- from which the red plastic gasoline container had been picked up.

"It would be tough to pin that on any one person," Jonesboro police Cpl. Doug Nolen said.

Gill said the truck was undamaged, and that Hester returned to his route.

A truck that could lift the expelled trash was sent to the church for cleanup.

Jonesboro is 130 miles northeast of Little Rock.