(KAIR)--A trash truck catches fire in downtown Atchison, leaving an alleyway blocked for a short time.

Atchison Fire Chief Ted Graf says his office was notified shortly before 2:15 Friday afternoon, and responded to the alley north of McDonald's.

It was there they found a Deffenbaugh trash truck left inoperable by the fire.

Graf says the driver of the 2012 Mack truck had extinguished the flames by the time firefighters arrived on the scene.

The small fire was confined to the engine compartment of the truck, causing damage to the air line system, resulting in the potential for brake failure.

Graf says the investigation indicates that a piece of cardboard came into contact with the truck's exhaust system and started the fire.