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Two Arlington Heights police officers and a firefighter were injured in a dramatic garbage truck explosion in a Chicago suburb on Friday.

 The incident happened around 4 p.m. as first responders were addressing a truck fire roughly 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.

According to a statement released by the Arlington Heights Police Department, the first responders were injured while assessing the fire. The explosion resulted in “flying debris and post-blast concussion,” leaving the officers and firefighter with non-life-threatening injuries. All three were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Garbage Truck Explosion Leaves Neighborhood Damage 

The explosion caused extensive damage in the area, with truck parts catapulted several blocks away. The shockwave shattered windows tore off siding and sections of roofs from nearby homes, and even deployed airbags in a squad car parked nearby. A fire engine sustained a shattered windshield, and its public safety radio was knocked off its console.

“The explosion was significant,” the police release stated. “Truck parts were sent airborne, and substantial property damage occurred in the immediate area.”

Arlington Heights Fire Department personnel swiftly contained the fire, while police and mutual aid teams managed crowd and traffic control.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Police, Illinois State Police, and neighboring departments from Inverness, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, and Wheeling also provided assistance.

Scene Documentation and Cleanup

Video footage captured by Paul Garanzini showed the explosion, with debris flying into the air, followed by a loud boom. Forensic technicians used digital and drone photography to document the damage.

The truck, powered by compressed natural gas, was operated by Groot Waste Management. The company dispatched a cleanup crew to remove debris from residential properties and streets. A heavy-duty wrecker removed the garbage truck from the scene by 7:15 p.m., and affected streets, including Euclid Avenue, were expected to reopen by 10 p.m.

While it remains unclear what caused the fire and subsequent explosion, police have urged residents with property damage to contact 911 for proper documentation. Groot Waste Management has not yet responded to requests for comment on the incident.