An e-scooter with a lithium-ion battery started a fire at a landfill. “This mangled piece of metal was an e-scooter with a lithium-ion battery,” the City of Logan said, referencing the picture above. “It must have been thrown into a garbage can or dumpster for disposal. … and had been smoldering for who knows how long.” While landfill inspectors pulled the scooter aside and fully extinguished the fire, the city said, “This could have been a dangerous situation very quickly.”
The city reminded residents to dispose of items with rechargeable batteries at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, instead of with garbage or recycling. Unified Fire Authority released a similar statement on Tuesday: “Lithium ion batteries are found in e-bikes, scooters, tools, laptops, phones and much more. If one cell fails it can trigger thermal runaway, causing the whole battery to ignite. To stay safe, always use the right charger, avoid charging overnight, store batteries in a cool dry place, and replace damaged ones.”
