Driver forced to dump burning rubbish across Adelaide street after fire in truck

A rubbish truck driver has dumped his load onto a busy Adelaide street after fire broke out in the vehicle's recycling compartment.

A rubbish truck has dumped its load after it caught fire on Thursday morning in a busy Adelaide street. Picture: Ruby Stewart

A massive pile of rubbish has been dumped onto a busy Adelaide street after a fire started in its rear compartment.

Two MFS crews with eight firefighters were called to the intersection of Cypress St and Angas St at 9.26am on Thursday morning after reports of a fire in the recycler of a rubbish truck.

Eight firefighters worked to put out a blaze that started in the back of a rubbish truck in Adelaide's CBD. Picture: 7NEWS

Eight firefighters worked to put out a blaze that started in the back of a rubbish truck in Adelaide's CBD. Picture: 7NEWS

SA Police said the driver was forced to dump the load in the middle of the street while MFS crews worked to extinguish the fire.

An MFS spokesman said crews were quickly on the scene but were unsure of what caused the fire at this stage.

SA Police said it was “suspected someone put a battery into their recycling”.

The Adelaide City Council has been tasked with the clean-up work, and a Bobcat is on scene to clear the rubbish as soon as possible.