A commercial fire in the 1800 block of Chespark Drive in Gastonia turned into an unexpected workday spoiler Monday, sending a thick plume of smoke over nearby industrial buildings and forcing businesses to hit pause. Drone footage showed firefighters clustered around a blazing compactor as crews worked to keep the flames boxed into the facility's waste-management equipment. City officials said no one was hurt and that the first priority was containing the fire to the compactor area.
According to the Gastonia Fire Department, Drone 1 captured the response Monday evening, and the department said the fire appeared to have started in an industrial processing facility's waste-compacting system. The post noted that crews kept most of the damage to the compactor equipment itself, although smoke and water cut into business operations for the rest of the day. No injuries were reported.
Lithium batteries and compactor fires
Federal investigators and industry reports have been sounding the alarm about lithium-ion batteries in the waste stream, which can ignite when damaged in collection trucks, compactors or processing lines. An analysis from the EPA on lithium-ion battery fires in waste management notes that crushed or shredded cells can enter what is known as "thermal runaway" and rapidly ignite nearby material, creating fires that are tough to knock down. Those incidents have led to guidance urging retailers and municipalities to keep batteries out of ordinary trash.
Where to take old batteries in Gaston County
For people in Gastonia looking to ditch old rechargeables safely, local recycler networks and participating retailers offer drop-off points. The Call2Recycle locator lists nearby options such as Lowe's and electronics repair shops that accept certain battery types. Retailers like Batteries Plus advise taping exposed terminals and placing each battery in its own plastic bag before drop-off to reduce the risk of short circuits. For damaged, swollen or larger-format batteries, officials recommend contacting a household hazardous-waste facility or certified recycler before moving them.
What this means for businesses on Chespark Drive
The 1800 block of Chespark Drive houses several industrial and processing operations. For instance, the Daniels Health Gastonia facility listing shows a processing center at 1851 Chespark Drive. According to the Gastonia Fire Department, firefighters confined Monday's blaze to the compaction equipment, though smoke and water forced nearby businesses to suspend operations for the day. Officials urged local employers to revisit how they handle batteries on site and to keep consumer batteries out of general trash to cut the risk of another close call.
Residents and businesses are advised to treat loose or dead lithium batteries as hazardous material: tape the terminals, store them in a non-conductive container and use certified drop-off sites instead of tossing them in curbside trash. For more detail on fire risks tied to lithium-ion batteries, consult the EPA, and for local disposal options, check the Call2Recycle locator.
