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Bin lorry fire prompts vape disposal warning

News imageWokingham Borough Council Bin lorry with pile of rubbish spilling out and a fire engine and crews using hoses to put out a fire in the waste.Wokingham Borough Council
The burning rubbish was unloaded from the lorry so firefighters could put out the flames

A bin lorry fire believed to have been sparked by a discarded vape has prompted a warning not to dispose of battery-powered items in household rubbish.

Wokingham Borough Council said the fire was spotted by the waste collection crew, who drove the lorry back to the depot and called Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The crew dumped the load of smouldering rubbish while firefighters put the fire out. A thermal imaging camera was then used to check for hotspots.

The council said no-one was hurt in the fire, which happened on Tuesday, but urged residents not to put batteries or battery-powered items in their bins.

It said batteries should instead be taken to a recycling centre or retailer with suitable recycling facilities.

News imageWokingham Borough Council Flames inside a bin lorry.Wokingham Borough Council
Crews spotted the fire in the back of their bin lorry after collecting rubbish in Wokingham
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