A fire broke out in the contents of a residential trash truck this morning, prompting the vehicle’s operator to dump the burning load in an empty lot to prevent further damage.

The fire was reported at 9:22 a.m. near the Sorrento neighborhood. The contents of the Arizona City-based AC Sanitation truck caught fire. The operator turned down Mirage Road, across the street from the Church of Latter-Day Saints. There, he dumped the smoldering trash in an empty dirt lot, away from other vehicles and people.

The fire burned hot enough to scar the garbage truck exterior.

Maricopa Fire Engine 572 responded to the scene and successfully extinguished the fire on the ground, which was in a pile next to the truck.

The driver was on scene and once the fire was extinguished, he was able to drive the truck further from the burning pile.

While public safety officials are still determining what caused this fire, there are several items to keep out of residential trash. One trash service says the following items are common causes of trash truck fires: lithium-ion batteries, gasoline, oil-based paints, bleach, ammonia, paint thinner and hot coals.

AC Sanitation’s local office declined comment.