A recycling truck caught fire in west Lincoln on Wednesday, shooting black smoke into the sky, officials said.

The fire occurred about 1:30 p.m. on the property of a business near North First and Q streets.

A Lincoln Fire and Rescue spokesperson said the fire caused an estimated $50,000 in damage to the semitrailer truck and its contents, including crushed cars and appliances.

The spokesperson said the value of the semi was about $90,000, and it might be repairable.

The fire was sparked when an airbag in a compacted car being hauled by the truck exploded, the spokesperson said.

Recyclers typically remove airbags, fuel and oil from cars before crushing them in a compactor, but the airbag must have been overlooked and exploded when the truck's loading device crushed it again, the spokes

See Full Page