40 firefighters and six fire engines were called to tackle a fire at a waste recycling facility on Devon Street in Southwark yesterday afternoon.

The blaze broke out in a single-storey tipping hall containing approximately 300 tonnes of waste. Emergency services were alerted at 12:31 PM, and fire crews from New Cross, Old Kent Road, Peckham, and Deptford fire stations responded swiftly.

Evacuation and Firefighting Efforts

Before firefighters arrived, around 100 people safely evacuated the site. No injuries were reported. Fire crews worked throughout the day to extinguish deep-seated pockets of fire, with assistance from site staff using shovel loaders to remove piles of smouldering waste.

Incident Commander Tom Ronan praised the coordinated effort, saying:

“Firefighters worked hard to extinguish deep-seated pockets of fire within a pile of waste. We also worked closely with the site operator to put out the blaze with staff using shovel loaders to remove piles of recycling. Firefighters remained on the scene into the evening to fully extinguish the fire.”

Residents in the vicinity were advised to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke drifting from the site. The fire was brought under control by 5:46 PM.

Cause and Warnings About Lithium-Ion Batteries

Investigators have attributed the cause of the fire to the failure of a lithium-ion battery discarded within the waste.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson emphasized the dangers of improperly disposing of lithium-ion batteries:

“Lithium batteries and electricals with hidden lithium-ion batteries should not be placed in the same bins as your regular rubbish or recycling. Instead, check with the retailer or your local authority’s website for the safest way to dispose of them.”

The spokesperson warned about the increasing frequency of fires caused by damaged or crushed lithium-ion batteries, which can explode and ignite rapidly:

“These fires often require extensive resources to extinguish and can have significant environmental and societal impacts on local communities.”

Safety Recommendations

The London Fire Brigade urges residents to:

• Avoid disposing of lithium-ion batteries in regular rubbish or recycling bins.
• Use designated disposal points, as advised by local authorities or retailers.
• Check electrical items for hidden batteries before discarding them.

The incident highlights the importance of proper waste disposal to prevent fires and safeguard communities.