Firefighters were called to Fulbourne Road, Walthamstow, on Friday afternoon after a refuse lorry caught fire, causing significant disruption in the area.
Crews from the London Fire Brigade arrived shortly after 4:15 pm to find the lorry ablaze. The team quickly emptied the burning rubbish onto the carriageway to extinguish the flames. The fire is believed to have been caused by a lithium battery that was disposed of incorrectly.
Road Closures
Fulbourne Road was temporarily closed to traffic as firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control. The incident caused delays and disruption in the surrounding area until the scene was cleared and deemed safe.
Safety Warning
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade at the scene urged the public to dispose of batteries responsibly:
“Lithium batteries, if damaged or improperly disposed of, can pose a significant fire risk. We strongly advise residents to take them to designated recycling facilities to avoid incidents like this.”
No injuries were reported, and the fire was fully extinguished within a short period. Cleanup operations ensured the road was reopened later in the evening.
Residents are reminded to remain vigilant when disposing of hazardous items, such as batteries, to prevent similar incidents.
