Vape battery to blame for Exeter bin lorry fire
£25,000 of damage was caused by the fire.
A vape battery has been blamed for a fire in a council bin lorry in Exeter last week.
The fire service attended the scene of the fire at Magdalen Street, at 6.32am on Wednesday. The firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze through holes in the roof of the vehicle.
Crews had to close the road to tackle the fire, causing significant traffic disruption.
The damage will cost at least £25,000 to repair — and people are being warned not to throw vapes or batteries in the bin.
Ruth Williams, Lead Councillor for Place and City Management, praised both the waste collection crew and the fire service. 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.”