A Pittsburgh Department of Public Works salt truck was destroyed Sunday morning after its engine caught fire beside Johno’s Art Studio on the border of South Side Slopes and Mt. Oliver.
Emergency crews responded to South 18th Street and Arlington Avenue at approximately 8:45 a.m. following reports of a vehicle fire. The DPW operator noticed warning indicators on the dashboard and pulled the truck over before flames consumed the engine compartment, a Pittsburgh Public Safety official said.
No injuries were reported. Officials said the blaze resulted from mechanical failure.
City officials have not commented on whether the destroyed vehicle will be replaced or how the loss might impact winter maintenance operations.
The incident comes as Pittsburgh grapples with an aging vehicle fleet that has impacted services across the city. Days ago, Councilwoman Barb Warwick introduced legislation that would establish a $20 million annual trust to address the crisis.
City officials estimate it will cost $207 million to retrofit the fleet over the next five years.