HOUSEHOLDS have been warned not to put batteries of any kind in their bin after another fire on the streets of Dorset.
A Dorset Council collection crew was in Summerhill Road, Lyme Regis, on Monday morning (December 23) when they noticed smoke coming from the back of the refuse truck.
“Our quick-thinking driver managed to drive to Kingsway, so he had more room and space away from parked cars,” a council spokesperson said.
“He managed to eject the load, which then burst into flames. The vehicle was moved away from the pile, the crew called on the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, and kept clear of the fire while making sure everyone stayed safe.
“Fortunately, the crew were uninjured. The vehicle also didn’t sustain any significant damage.”
The fire has prompted a fresh warning over batteries from Dorset Council
They said the fire was caused by a battery-powered drill and multiple batteries that had been put in a recycling bin from a property in Summerhill Road.
Street cleaners were later sent to the street to clear the debris.
“Batteries of any kind should never be placed in any bin,” the spokesperson added. “Our crews do not manually sort through the contents of any bins before the contents are crushed in the back of our collection vehicles.
“Crushed batteries can cause fires, especially when surrounded by highly flammable material like paper, cardboard, and plastic.
READ MORE: Batteries left in bin cause lorry fire in Bridport
“Batteries and battery-powered items can be taken to any of our household recycling centres.
“Household batteries can be placed in a battery bag (or a clear sealable plastic bag) and left on top of your recycling bin for collection.”
The incident comes weeks after another fire, in Bridport, caused by batteries disposed of in the rubbish.
It is believed the blaze was caused by batteries discarded in general rubbish
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