Fire consumes trash truck, causing explosion that injured firefighters

TEMECULA (CNS) - A trash truck erupted in flames today in Temecula, causing a liquid propane fuel tank to explode, hurling debris into nearby fire engines, causing minor injuries to 12 crew members and a civilian. The vehicle fire was reported about 10:35 a.m. at the intersection of Butterfield Stage and Rancho California roads, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. Multiple engine crews arrived to find the trash truck fully engulfed, with the driver outside of the rig. As firefighters were pouring water on the blaze, the truck's 25-gallon propane tank exploded, and pieces of metal and other debris went in all directions, according to reports from the scene. A dozen firefighters and a civilian suffered unspecified minor injuries, according to the fire department, which also