Friday afternoon commuters in Downtown Brooklyn got an unwelcome street show when a garbage truck suddenly went up in flames on Flatbush Avenue Extension, sending thick smoke over the neighborhood. Firefighters yanked the burning trash out of the truck, dumped it into the middle of the roadway, and spread the smoldering debris to box in the blaze while crews doused nearby construction materials. Officials later traced the cause to lithium-ion batteries buried in the truck's load, and said no one was hurt.
According to News 12 New York, FDNY crews discovered discarded lithium-ion batteries in hazmat material bins at the scene and linked them to the ignition. The outlet reported that the flames erupted alongside ongoing construction at a retail space connected to the Brook, where firefighters and workers were seen hauling out what looked like office chairs and cabinets while two lanes of Flatbush Avenue Extension stayed shut during the cleanup. News 12 noted that firefighters intentionally dumped the truck’s burning load onto the street to make it easier to put out stubborn hot spots.
FDNY: Batteries Can Ignite ‘Charging or Not’
The FDNY has been sounding the alarm on lithium-ion batteries for months, warning that they can light up even when they are not plugged into anything. In a recent safety notice the department said, “a malfunctioning or uncertified lithium-ion battery can explode at any moment, charging or not,” and urged New Yorkers to keep batteries outdoors when possible and away from exits inside the home. The department has also reported a rise in structural fires linked to lithium-ion packs earlier this year as part of a broader public safety push, according to FDNY.
Why Garbage Trucks Are Sitting Ducks for Battery Fires
When rechargeable batteries are tossed in with everyday trash, a garbage truck can quickly turn into a rolling fire hazard. Industry officials say batteries that are hidden in bags can get pierced or crushed by a truck’s compacting system, which can trigger thermal runaway and intense heat. “Once those batteries get pierced or crushed, they actually catch on fire,” a Boro-Wide executive told FOX 5 NY. When that happens, sanitation crews sometimes have little choice but to dump the burning load onto the street and spread it out so firefighters can attack individual pockets of fire.
City Rules and Where to Dump Dead Batteries Safely
City agencies are trying to keep batteries out of the regular trash entirely, pressing residents and businesses to use proper recycling channels instead. The FDNY continues to recommend charging and storing lithium-ion batteries outside when it is feasible, FDNY says. The Department of Sanitation operates Special Waste Drop-Off Sites and citywide SAFE events in every borough where rechargeable batteries and other electronic waste can be handed over for proper recycling, and stores that sell rechargeable batteries typically accept them back for safe disposal, according to DSNY.
Neighborhood Pattern
Friday’s truck fire is part of a broader pattern of lithium-ion incidents across Brooklyn, from smaller library fires to larger shop and apartment blazes that have kept crews on edge. Hoodline earlier covered a battery fire at the Williamsburg library this month, and News 12 New York reported that investigators recovered hazmat bins full of discarded batteries at the Flatbush Avenue Extension scene. City officials continue to hammer home that using proper disposal routes and retailer take-back programs is the simplest way to cut down on these dangerous truck and building fires.
