Lakewood garbage truck fire caused by improperly discarded lithium batteries

Lakewood Garbage Truck Fire Caused by Improperly Discarded Lithium Batteries

Posted by
1 min read
August 20, 2025

Lithium battery sparks fire in garbage truck prompting warning from Lakewood Fire Department

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Wednesday — A garbage truck was forced to dump its burning load on a township street after lithium-ion batteries tossed in the trash ignited mid-route, prompting a fresh warning from firefighters about the dangers of improper disposal.

Lakewood fire crews rushed to the scene earlier this week when smoke began pouring from a sanitation truck during a routine collection run. Once the vehicle unloaded its contents, firefighters discovered a fire had erupted among a pile of improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries. Crews were able to contain and extinguish the flames before any injuries or major damage occurred.

Officials say the batteries — commonly found in devices like e-bikes, laptops, phones, and power tools — pose a growing threat when not handled correctly. When crushed, punctured, or exposed to heat inside garbage compactors, lithium-ion batteries can spontaneously combust or explode.

Following the incident, Fire Chief Yahr issued a community alert urging residents to avoid placing batteries in household trash or recycling bins and instead bring them to authorized drop-off locations like the Ocean County Recycling Center. The fire department also advised residents to store old batteries in a cool, dry area away from flammable materials until they can be safely disposed of.

Improper disposal has become a rising concern for sanitation crews and emergency responders across the country, as waste fires linked to lithium-ion batteries continue to increase.

Residents can contact the Ocean County Recycling Center at (732) 905-4457 or visit them at 601 New Hampshire Avenue for safe disposal options and guidelines.

——

Key Points

  • A fire broke out in a Lakewood garbage truck after lithium-ion batteries were tossed in the trash
  • Firefighters extinguished the blaze after the truck dumped its smoking load
  • Officials remind residents to never dispose of rechargeable batteries in household waste

A load of trash caught fire in Lakewood after batteries ignited in the compactor, sounding alarms over growing disposal risks.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss