Discarded vape causes extensive damage to council bin lorry in Exeter

Residents are being reminded that vapes must be properly disposed of after a vape battery exploded in the back of a council bin lorry.

It ignited a serious fire that caused extensive damage to the vehicle. 

As soon as the crew noticed the smoke in their mirrors, the driver deployed the vehicle’s compacting mechanism to cut off the air supply to the fire and contain it within the vehicle. 

But the fire had already spread quickly, melting the electrics and preventing the mechanism from working fully. 

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene at Magdalen Street, at 6.32am on Wednesday, and managed to extinguish the fire through holes in the roof of the vehicle. 

Crews confirmed the blaze involved rubbish inside a refuse lorry. They had to close the road to tackle the blaze, causing significant traffic disruption. 

Ruth Williams, Lead Councillor for Place and City Management, was quick to praise both the waste collection crew and the fire service responders. She said: “The collection crew did brilliantly – their swift action prevented an even worse situation from developing. 

“I’d also like to say a big thank you to the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, who arrived at the scene quickly and supported our staff during and after the incident with great care and professionalism.” 

Cllr Williams added: “The safety of our staff and the public are paramount, and I’d like to thank everyone for how they reacted under pressure.” 

Once the fire was out and it was determined that the vehicle could be driven safely, the fire crew reopened the road and followed the waste crew back to the Council’s depot in case of reignition. 

The fire destroyed the rear of the vehicle, becoming so hot that it melted the metal walls of the waste compartment. Repair costs have been estimated at a minimum of £25,000. 

Luckily, the crew had made only a handful of collections by the time the fire broke out, so the vehicle was not full of several tonnes of waste. 

Cllr Williams said: “This all happened because someone threw away their electronic vape without thinking. Waste batteries are a known fire risk, and one careless act has caused major traffic disruption and at least £25,000 worth of vehicle damage.” 

Anything containing a battery – especially a lithium-ion battery – must be disposed of at a legitimate waste electrical recycling collection point. Retailers of electrical goods must provide these as part of Extended Producer Responsibility. 

Vape collection points in Exeter are listed on the Recycle Your Electricals website: https://www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk/electrical-recycling-near-me/?rye-postcode=Exeter,%20UK. 

Cllr Williams added: “£25,000 is a lot to spend on repairing fire damage to a bin vehicle when public finances are already stretched. My plea to all Exeter residents is this: please take responsibility for your waste and use your bins responsibly.”