Garbage Truck Catches Fire Due To Lithium Battery: Westport FD

WESTPORT, CT — A lithium battery caused a garbage truck's load to catch fire Thursday, according to fire officials.

The truck's load caught fire on Fairview Drive shortly before 2 p.m. The operator heard an explosion and saw smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle, Fire Chief Michael Kronick said.

The operator dumped the load from the truck and used a fire extinguisher to put the fire out.

The fire was caused by a vacuum cleaner's lithium battery.

"Improper disposal of lithium batteries can cause fires," Kronick said. "Lithium batteries are unlikely to catch fire if handled and disposed of properly, but they can, through faults inside the battery or from external damage. And when they do catch fire, the consequences can be severe."

Lithium-ion batteries shouldn't be thrown in the garbage. They can be recycled at battery recycling locations. Westport residents can recycle batteries at the transfer station.