A refuse lorry caught fire on Jamaica Street in Glasgow city centre on Wednesday morning, forcing crews to unload its contents onto the busy thoroughfare after they noticed the vehicle was burning. The blaze, reported at around 07:50, is believed to be the eighth incident of its kind in the city so far this year, and officials say it was likely triggered by a battery discarded in household waste.
According to a report from STV, firefighters were called to the scene just before 8am and the area was cordoned off while the fire was extinguished.
How did the fire start?
Glasgow City Council says the blaze began after bins from a nearby student accommodation block were emptied into the lorry. GMB trade union convenor Chris Mitchell said it was not yet clear exactly where the electrical items had come from, but that the fire started shortly after that collection.
"We are just one fire away from a disaster to be honest," he said.
"Everyone has a responsibility to put the proper materials in the bins when they are emptying their rubbish."
"We are unsure where the electrical goods came from but the fire started after the bins at the student accommodation were emptied."
"I would urge people to be mindful of what they are putting in these bins, especially electrical goods. We have fantastic commercial and bulk uplift or recycling centres where it can be disposed of safely."
Why are these fires becoming more common?
Battery-related fires in bin lorries have become a recurring problem across Glasgow in recent months. GMB Scotland has said five such fires have been reported in the city recently, warning that damaged lithium batteries can undergo what is known as thermal runaway, a chemical reaction that causes them to eject gas and sparks, according to GMB Scotland. The union has also linked the rise to newer refuse trucks, which compact waste more aggressively than older models, increasing the likelihood that batteries are crushed and ignite surrounding rubbish.
Separately, local outlet Glasgow Live reported that three refuse vehicle fires had occurred in the city within the previous two weeks, with suspected vape batteries thought to be involved in those incidents, per a report from Glasgow Live.
The risks posed by lithium-ion batteries extend beyond household bins. A much larger fire at the Veolia waste facility off Claylands Avenue in Glasgow later required more than 165 firefighters and took two days to bring under control; that blaze was classed as accidental and almost certainly caused by a lithium-ion battery, according to a national broadcaster's report. Waste-sector fires linked to lithium batteries have also been reported elsewhere in Scotland and beyond, including at a Fife recycling centre in May and, two months later, in a second fire at the same Fife facility.
What is the council doing about it?
Glasgow City Council said the incident underlined the risks associated with improper battery disposal.
"It is vital that we all take care to recycle batteries properly," a spokesperson said.
"Batteries can be safely recycled at a wide range of shops or at any of our household waste recycling centres."
"Staff followed the correct procedure by unloading the waste in the vehicle as soon as they became aware of the fire. This quick response ensured they were unharmed and minimised the risk of damage to the vehicle."
What happens next?
The council has confirmed it will launch a communications campaign next month to encourage residents to dispose of batteries and vapes safely rather than placing them in general household waste, according to a report on the planned initiative. The effort, named Take Charge Glasgow and backed by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, aims to keep batteries and vapes out of standard bins by directing residents to dedicated recycling points at shops, electrical retailers and council recycling centres, according to APSE.
Key Facts
- The fire broke out on Jamaica Street in Glasgow city centre at around 07:50 on Wednesday morning.
- It is believed to be the eighth bin lorry fire of its kind in Glasgow so far this year.
- GMB Scotland has recorded five recent bin lorry fires linked to lithium batteries in the city.
- Glasgow City Council will launch its Take Charge Glasgow battery-recycling awareness campaign next month.
- A separate lithium-battery fire at a Veolia facility in Glasgow required more than 165 firefighters over two days.
