E-Cigarettes Cause Fire in Garbage Truck in Wales

A fire, believed to have been sparked by disposable vapes, erupted in the back of a lorry in Wales, causing significant disruption. Firefighters were called to the Newtown bypass in Powys, where a lorry carrying smouldering recycling material required immediate attention. To contain the blaze, crews unloaded 30 tonnes of rubbish onto the road, subsequently damping it down. The road was temporarily closed during this operation.

The fire service stated, “This fire is believed to have been caused by disposable vapes that were not correctly disposed of. Several disposable vapes were found within the lorry’s contents. These vapes appeared to have been crushed and damaged, which likely caused them to spark and ignite the rest of the rubbish within the lorry.”

In addition to the fire service, representatives from Natural Resources Wales, the police, and the council were also called to the scene on 7 June. Firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze and left the site at 12:27 BST on 8 June.

Recent research by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and Recycle Your Electricals indicates a significant surge in battery fires in bin lorries and waste sites across the UK. According to their findings, such incidents have increased by 71%, from 700 cases in 2022 to more than 1,200 in the past year.

Recommendations

To prevent similar incidents in the future, the following measures are recommended:

1. Proper Disposal of E-Cigarettes: Ensure that disposable vapes and other battery-operated devices are disposed of correctly, following local guidelines for electronic waste.
2. Public Awareness Campaigns: Increase public awareness through campaigns that educate on the risks associated with improper disposal of e-cigarettes and batteries.
3. Enhanced Waste Management Protocols: Waste management companies should implement stricter protocols to identify and safely manage electronic waste.
4. Legislative Measures: Governments should consider introducing stricter regulations governing the disposal of electronic devices to mitigate the risk of fires.

By implementing these measures, the risk of fires caused by improperly disposed of e-cigarettes and other electronic waste can be significantly reduced, ensuring safer waste management practices.