Lithium battery to blame for truck fire

A lithium battery dumped in a recycling bin caused a fire in a collection truck in St Andrews this week.

The Waimate District Council posted online that the fire started in the back of truck during the kerbside collection run on Tuesday morning.

The truck driver observed smoke coming from the back of the truck while driving and immediately pulled in to the closest farmer’s agricultural yard, the property owner said.

The truck’s load was discharged and the St Andrews Volunteer Fire Brigade was called.

"As soon as the recycling was dumped on an open shingle-based area, it burst into flames," the property owner said.

She said the driver told her it was his third fire in 15 years.

The council’s post said the fire was a timely reminder that batteries were hazardous waste that could not be placed in any of the kerbside wheelie bins.

Not only were batteries harmful to the environment and posed health risks, but they could also cause fires in the bin, the collection truck, or even the compactor itself.

"To safely dispose of batteries, please place into a non-flammable container (e.g. glass, metal or ceramic) and bring to one of the battery recycling stations provided at Waimate New World or the Waimate Resource Recovery Park." 

— APL