An increase in the number of vape-related refuse vehicle fires in Devon has prompted a warning from the district council.
Since the beginning of the year, three waste collection fires have been reported by Devon District Council.
One of the incidents occurred in one of the council’s bin lorries, while the other two had broken out at depots. According to the council, they were small-scale blazes but had the potential to be more serious if the depot staff and crew had not responded as quickly.
With only four fires being recorded last year, the local authority has linked the rise to the incorrect disposal of vapes and the hazards created by the lithium-ion batteries they contain.
A council spokesperson said: ‘The fires do cause disruption, most so far have been extinguished in the vehicle but then crews need to travel back to the depot and offload.’
They added: ‘Numbers are rising, primarily due to vapes.’
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Photo: © Markus Winkler.
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