Firefighters believe a huge waste centre blaze which caused severe disruption across Suffolk last week was started by a discarded battery.
The fire at Sackers in Great Blakenham last Thursday shut down train services, closed roads and saw dozens of firefighters called out.
Fire crews first attended the blaze in Gipping Road in the village just before 10am.
At its height, 80 fire personnel were on scene, as well as 22 engines.
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has said it now believes the blaze was likely caused by a discarded battery at the site.
An investigation was launched shortly after the fire was brought under control and it was established that the most likely cause was a battery which had made its way into a pile of scrap metal.
If batteries, or electricals containing batteries, are not properly separated they can end up being crushed in the waste and recycling process.
When punctured they can self-combust, setting fire to any surrounding dry and flammable waste and recycling.
Steve Wiles, Suffolk County Council cabinet member for public protection, said: “This was a major incident that caused massive disruption to a great many people and saw firefighters put themselves potentially in harm’s way as they bravely dealt with it.
“We all use batteries, we all benefit from them, and therefore it is everyone’s responsibility to dispose of them safely.
“I would urge people to learn from this incident – please, when you get rid of a battery, do it properly.”
It's not the first time Sackers has caught fire - last year there were two blazes within a month at the recycling centre in the village near Claydon.
READ MORE: What happened at the fire at Sackers in Great Blakenham
The plumes of smoke from last week's fire could be seen from as far away as Felixstowe and Mendlesham, as residents were urged to shut windows and doors for nearly 24 hours.
Trains were also severely affected as rail services from Ipswich to Norwich, Cambridge and Ely were cancelled owing to the potential danger from the fire to the adjacent railway track.
The National Fire Chiefs Council said in May that lithium-ion batteries thrown in household rubbish bins had led to more than 1,200 fires in the UK waste system in the last 12 months, compared to only 700 in 2022.
In June last year, operations were disrupted at Haverhill waste transfer station in Homefield Road after fire broke out among 50 tonnes of rubbish. This was thought to have been caused by a battery.
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has said batteries can be safely disposed of at any of the county's 11 recycling centres.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel