Discarded lithium battery sparks 100-yard fire at New Hanover County landfill

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A discarded lithium battery sparked a large fire at the New Hanover County landfill Thursday morning, according to landfill officials.

Emergency crews responded to the landfill after a significant amount of smoke was reported in the area.

Landfill officials said the fire covered an area of about 100 yards and was caused by a discarded lithium battery.

Crews used heavy machinery and soil to extinguish the fire, officials said.

According to landfill officials, fires caused by discarded batteries are not uncommon. However, they said this was the first lithium battery-related incident at the landfill in some time.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or major impacts to landfill operations.

Lithium batteries can pose a fire risk when they are damaged or improperly discarded, particularly when they come into contact with equipment or other materials during waste processing.

WWAY will continue to provide updates if additional information becomes available.