Over two months have passed since a fire in a Groot garbage truck resulted in an explosion on Friday, December 6, 2025 that caused debris and missiles of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders to fly out of the blast, up to as much as one-quarter mile from the scene.
The Village of Arlington Heights announced Friday, February 7, 2025 that the fire department will present the results of its own investigation into the Groot garbage truck investigation on February 18, 2025; however, the village did not mention whether any independent, unbiased agency is investigating the explosion. Compare this situation to incidents when police officers are involved in officer-involved shootings or serious police officer-involved crashes: a separate agency (e.g., Illinois State Police) is assigned to investigate an incident to make an attempt of unbiased integrity of the investigation.
The Village of Arlington Heights has not initially announced the investigation by any third party agencies, such as the Illinois State Fire Marshal, ATF, OSHA or private investigator specialists connected to insurance companies or law firms.
ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) is authorized to inspect the site of any accident or fire where there is reason to believe that explosive materials were involved. Other federal agencies, or state or local agencies, may also investigate such incidents, depending on the circumstances, according to ATF [18 U.S.C. 846(a); 27 CFR 555.31].
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) may also have an interest in the incident, especially because one of two police officers has not returned to work due to IOD (Injury on Duty) more than two months after the explosion. One firefighter and two police officers were injured at the scene during the explosion.
Also, the Village of Arlington Heights has not indicated whether any independent, outside federal, state, or local agencies were notified by the village regarding the incident.
“The Arlington Heights Fire Department will present the results of its investigation regarding the Groot garbage truck explosion that occurred on December 6, 2024, during the Village Board meeting on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall. Representatives from Groot will also be in attendance, according to the Village of Arlington Heights.
The presentation will be available for live streaming and will remain available on the Village’s website at https://arlingtonheightsil.portal.civicclerk.com and also on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@VAHBoardMeetings/streams.”
An independent investigation is also necessary to make certain that Groot Industries, which has a contract with the Village of Arlington Heights, isn’t being unfairly influenced or coerced to agree with the conclusion of the Arlington Heights Fire Department investigation.
An independent investigation would be especially important and appropriate since incorrect fire department operations may have been culpable in the cause of the explosion. One or more Compressed Natural Gas Cylinders (CNG cylinders) with TPRDs (temperature-activated pressure relief devices) exploded at the scene. Firefighting and CNG system manufacturers recommendations for managing flames impinging these CNG cylinders advises against applying water directly on the cylinders and/or their TPRDs because cooling the TPRD safety devices prevents them from functioning properly in an emergency fire situation. When TPRDs function properly, they prevent catastrophic explosions of the CNG cylinders. The purpose of the safety response of the heated TPRDs is to vent the natural gas out of the cylinders, even if the exhausted gas is burning, because the gas will eventually burn out; and venting or “jetting” of natural gas is considered a better outcome than a catastrophic explosion. Firefighters are supposed to be prepared to protect exposures with water if vented, burning gas coming out of the TPRD is close to, or impinging on a structure (such as a house across the street) — still a better situation than risking injuries or fatalities caused by cylinder missiles striking a pedestrian, or striking a vehicle occupant, or causing blast trauma to a pedestrian or vehicle occupant.
A body camera video from the Arlington Heights Police Department shows that before the explosion, a firefighter was applying a stream of water to the top of the garbage truck where the CNG cylinders and TPRDs are located.
After the explosion, several cylinders or cylinder fragments were found hundreds of feet from ground zero.
One large black cylinder, similar to a missile, described as a black tank, was found in the lawn in the block of 500 North Lincoln Lane, about 1000 feet from ground zero.
Another black cylinder or tank, similar to a missile, was found at Fremont Street and Carlyle, about 350 feet from ground zero.
Another large black tank was found in the block of 600 North Wilshire Lane, about 1200 feet from ground zero.
Another large black cylinder tank was found embedded into a garage wall after shooting into the side of the garage about 380 feet from ground zero.
A “lot of debris” was reported discovered at Beverly Lane and St. James Street about 1400 feet from ground zero.
A “lot of debris” was also found at Euclid Avenue east of Windsor Drive, about 730 feet from ground zero.
A gas meter at a house was also damaged by the blast. An airbag was deployed in a police SUV that was parked at the scene, and a fire engine was damaged at the scene.
Several homes were damaged on Derbyshire Lane, Euclid Avenue and on Fremont Street.
Arlington Heights garbage truck explosion caught on Police Body Cam, Dash Cam; Did water on CNG cylinder TPRD (temperature-activated pressure relief device) cause the blast? YouTube Tips ⓘ
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Note: The Arlington Heights Fire Department under the direct authority of Fire Chief Lance Harris and management of Village Manager Randy Recklaus provides minimal information and details on hazards, incidents and statistics as incidents occur in the Village of Arlington Heights. Contrary to many other fire departments in the United States, the Arlington Heights Fire Department has no official in-house news website, no official Facebook page, and no official X.com timeline to directly report incidents and important public safety information to the public in real time — apparently because the Arlington Heights Fire Department is micromanaged by Village Manager Randy Recklaus, and social media is handled via the Village of Arlington Heights social media platforms.
Additionally, two sources that wish to remain unnamed have informed CARDINAL NEWS that Fire Chief Lance Harris is an advocate of encrypting FIRE EMS RESCUE communications in the Northwest Central Dispatch System 9-1-1 center, which would prevent news media, security personnel, and everyday citizens from being aware of incidents, disasters and hazardous situations in the Village of Arlington Heights in real time. This would further give the Village of Arlington Heights the ability to hide or manipulate details of serious incidents, violent crimes, disasters, and other public safety incidents that involve injuries, fires, and other hazards. Fire Chief Lance Harris also declined to answer an email from CARDINAL NEWS requesting confirmation of his advocacy for encrypting FIRE EMS RESCUE radio talk groups. The matters above and the failure to have a spirit of media partnership is counter to Open Government, and can lead to corruption of awareness of the quality of life in Arlington Heights. For more information, see Arlingtoncardinal.com/awarenessmatters …
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