By james art GILBERT, Arizona (AZ Family) — When a massive fire broke out in a van in the Gilbert neighborhood, a city garbage truck driver sprang into action to put out the flames.
“I didn’t know if anyone was inside. My biggest thing was to let me help put that fire out and see what I could do by the time the fire department got there,” Drew Porter said.
He was on his usual recycling route through town when he noticed someone panicking in a neighborhood near Baseline and Greenfield roads.
“We came around the corner and I kept picking up boxes, but I saw him running around his truck,” Porter said.
He took a closer look at the van through the windshield and saw the flames starting to grow. He knew he had to help.
“I could keep driving if I wanted to, but my job is I’m here to serve the people of the city of Gilbert, not just Gilbert, wherever it is,” Porter said.
Porter quickly stopped and sprung into action.
He was worried the fire might spread to a nearby house and hurt someone.
“It would pass because there’s a park right there in that little cul-de-sac. Kids walk through there to get to the bus stop,” Porter said.
Gilbert’s garbage trucks are equipped with fire extinguishers in case a fire starts inside the truck from people’s trash, which came in handy in just this situation. “That fire extinguisher put out the whole fire, so I put the fire out before the fire department showed up. They went down to make sure it was under control and sprayed it.”
The Arizona family spoke with the family where this fire happened, they didn’t want to go on camera, but said they were grateful for Porter’s quick actions to help them.
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