Lithium-Ion Battery Starts Garbage Truck Fire At Lake Forest Facility

LAKE FOREST, IL — A disposed lithium-ion battery is believed to have sparked a fire inside a garbage truck at the Lake Forest Compost & Recycling Center, according to the fire department.

Initial reports indicate that the fire started in the rear compartment of the truck. Moving quickly, the truck operator dumped the burning load into the ground and moved the truck away from the fire.

The Lake Forest Fire Department quickly extinguished the fire.

"The quick actions of the driver and responding crews helped prevent what could have been a much more serious incident,” said Lake Forest Fire Chief Andy Rick. “We’re thankful for the safe outcome and want to remind residents to dispose of lithium-ion batteries properly to prevent fires like this.”

Lithium-ion batteries are commonly found in electronics such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, power tools and other household devices. They store significant energy and can easily ignite if disposed of improperly.

Fire department officials said improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries have already caused multiple garbage truck fires in the recent months, which puts the lives of sanitation crews at risk.

Batteries can be safely dropped off at the Compost & Recycling Center in a bin designated for them specifically. For additional safety tips on battery disposal, residents are encouraged to visit the National Fire Protection Association’s Fire Prevention Week page at nfpa.org/events/fire-prevention-week