Cass County first responders rushed to contain what was described as a trash truck fire at the intersection of Logansport Road and U.S. 24 on Thursday.
A press release from the Cass County Emergency Management Agency said dispatch received a call about the fire around 7:55 a.m. It started after a roll-off container fell from a transport vehicle into the roadway.
EMA Director Rocky Buffum said the fire was especially difficult to put out because the container was filled with aluminum dross, a hazardous solid waste that is produced by melting aluminum. The dross was being transported from SRT Aluminum in Wabash.
According to Kaiser Aluminum, aluminum dross can create ammonia, hydrogen, phosphine, and methane gasses when introduced to water.