Press Release  Recycling Truck Fire Started with Lithium-Ion Batteries

SUNDERLAND — A fire in the back of a recycling truck last week started with improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries, Sunderland Fire Chief Steven J. Benjamin and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine said.

Shortly after 8 AM on April 28th, Shelburne Control Dispatch alerted the Sunderland Fire Department to a recycling truck fire on River Road in Sunderland.  The truck was collecting curbside recycling along its route in Sunderland when the driver noticed a fire in the rear of the truck.  The driver called 911 then located a safe area to dump the burning contents, per their protocol.

The Sunderland Fire Department arrived to find heavy fire in the compacted debris, which was safely away from any structures. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire with the assistance of the Sunderland Highway Department.  The Highway Department’s heavy equipment was needed to spread the tightly packed pile of recycling apart so the fire could be completely extinguished.

The origin and cause of the fire were investigated by the Sunderland Fire Department and State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office. They determined that lithium-ion batteries had been placed in a curbside recycling bin and were collected by the truck.  Once inside the rear compartment, the batteries were compacted along with the other recycling materials.  The physical damage of the compaction caused a rapid, uncontrolled increase in temperature inside the battery known as thermal runaway.  This resulted in a fire that quickly spread to the rest of the truck’s contents.

Six Sunderland firefighters and one engine responded to the incident. The recycling truck sustained damage and was taken out of service.  There were no injuries.

Chief Benjamin and State Fire Marshal Davine reminded residents that lithium-ion batteries have high energy density, meaning they pack a lot of power in a small device.  They should not be placed in the trash or household recycling. Instead, residents should take them to household hazardous waste collection site or a battery recycling location. Many communities offer battery recycling programs, and you can find the nearest one here.

More information on lithium-ion battery safety is available at the Department of Fire Services’ website.

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