Rockford Recycling Center Fire Blamed on Lithium-Ion Battery After 30 Firefighters Respond
A lithium-ion battery likely caused a fire at the North Kent Recycling and Waste Center near Rockford. Thirty firefighters from six departments responded Tuesday night. The facility remains open.
A battery in the trash started a structure fire at the Rockford recycling center
A lithium-ion battery is the likely cause of a fire that sent 30 firefighters to a Kent County recycling center near Rockford on Tuesday night, officials said.
The blaze broke out at the North Kent Recycling and Waste Center at 2908 10 Mile Road NE, just east of the intersection of 10 Mile Road and US-131. The fire did not injure anyone and caused only minimal damage to the building.
But it required a second alarm and a multi-department response that lasted about an hour.
What happened at the recycling center
The Plainfield Township Fire Department received a call at 7:34 p.m. Tuesday after a fire alarm went off at the facility, according to WOODTV and FOX 17.
When crews arrived, they found a large pile of debris burning inside the building. The sprinkler system had already activated. Heavy smoke filled the structure.
"The size of the fire and smoke conditions, it was upgraded to a structure fire response, and a second alarm was requested," the Plainfield Township Fire Department said, according to FOX 17.
Firefighters brought the fire under control in about an hour. An on-site excavator helped crews access and extinguish the burning materials, according to WWMT.
Departments that responded alongside Plainfield Township included Rockford, Algoma Township, Alpine Township, Cannon Township, Sparta, and Walker fire departments, WOODTV reported.
Why lithium-ion batteries are a growing threat
Investigators believe a lithium-ion battery caused the fire, according to WZZM13 and the Kent County Recycling and Waste Facebook page.
Officials said the battery was likely crushed or damaged during collection and processing, which can cause it to spark and ignite.
"When lithium-ion batteries end up in the trash or recycling, they can be crushed and damaged during collection and processing. This can cause them to spark and start fires in collection trucks, at transfer stations, in recycling facilities, and at landfills," the recycling center said on Facebook, according to WZZM13.
Kent County Recycling and Waste added that lithium-ion battery fires are something waste workers encounter all too often. The fires put workers at risk, damage equipment, and can disrupt waste and recycling operations.
The facility remains open
The Kent County Department of Public Works confirmed on Wednesday that the North Kent Recycling and Waste Center is fully operational, according to FOX 17.
Officials are reminding residents never to throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or recycling bins. Batteries can be disposed of safely at SafeChem sites across Kent County, according to WZZM13.
Residents can find a list of SafeChem locations at ReimagineTrash.org, the county said.
Sources
- ▸Dozens of firefighters respond to structure fire at North Kent Landfill
- ▸Lithium-ion battery is likely cause of fire at Kent County waste facility
- ▸Lithium-ion battery believed to have started fire at North Kent Recycling Center
- ▸Large debris pile caught fire inside North Kent Recycling and Waste Center
- ▸30 firefighters put out fire at Plainfield Township recycling center
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