Lincolnshire firefighters warn of dangers after battery sparks blaze at Grantham tip

Residents are being warned to dispose of batteries safely after a fire forced a tip to close over the weekend.

The Grantham household waste and recycling centre in Mowbeck Way was closed between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning due to a badly discarded battery.

Lincolnshire County Council has warned residents not to dispose of batteries in general waste after the incident.

Instead, they should be recycled separately at designated points, including supermarkets and recycling centres. Kerbside collections are also available in South Kesteven.

Dan Moss, from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, highlighted the risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, particularly those in disposable vapes.

“We’ve had over 70 incidents related to the unsafe disposal of vapes,” he said.

“Once they catch fire, it's very difficult to extinguish, especially if they are in and around other combustible items.

“The batteries will catch fire and very quickly ignite other items around them which can cause significant issues for fire and rescue as they escalate.”

Fire crews are working with the waste industry to promote safe disposal.