Plea to dispose of lithium batteries properly following skip fire

We’re urging people to make sure they stay safe around lithium batteries after one exploded and caused a skip fire in Stafford.

Fire crews were called to Stafford Household Recycling Centre on St Albans Road just after 8pm on Thursday (1 May) following reports of a fire inside a skip with items inside.

Two crews used two main jets to extinguish the fire.

Nobody was reported injured.

The fire was deemed to have been caused accidentally after a lithium battery inside the skip exploded.

Watch Manager, James Leighton, said: “This is the second big fire in a week caused by lithium and lithium-ion batteries in Staffordshire. They pose significant fire safety hazards and we’re urging people to make sure they are aware of these risks.

“On Saturday (26 April), we also extinguished a house fire in Stoke-on-Trent that was caused by an e-bike battery igniting while on charge.

“It’s vitally important that lithium batteries are disposed of correctly. They should never be put in normal household waste and should be taken to recycling centres and put in specific battery recycling boxes.

“Equally, there is an increasing number of electronic devices in the modern home that are powered by lithium-ion batteries. We’re urging people not to be tempted by cheap chargers and to stick to reputable manufactures when charging their devices. They should never be left to charge overnight or while unattended.

“By making sure we know the risks involved with these batteries, we can all help to reduce the risk of serious fires in Staffordshire.”

For more safety advice, visit our website: Lithium-ion batteries