Massachusetts fire officials are reminding residents of ways to properly dispose of lithium-ion batteries after a recycling truck fire in Sunderland. Last month, crews were called to a recycling truck fire on River Road in Sunderland. The Department of Fire Services said that the truck was collecting curbside recycling when the driver noticed the fire in the back of the truck. The driver called 911 and found a safe area to dump the burning contents, which is per their protocol.
The Sunderland Fire Department, with the help of the Sunderland Highway Department, was able to put the fire out and spread the recycling apart to be sure it was completely out. The cause, determined by the Department of Fire Services, was from lithium-ion batteries that were placed in a householdโs recycling bin. When it was collected by the truck, it was compacted, causing an uncontrolled increase in temperature inside the battery known as thermal runaway, resulting in a fire that spread quickly.
