Fire breaks out at Darlaston battery recycling facility

LONDON (Scrap Monster): A massive fire broke out at the Darlaston battery recycling plant of G&P Batteries during early hours yesterday. The fire started around 1.20 AM. Fifty fire fighters from West Midlands Fire Service struggled hard for nearly 90 minutes to bring the fire under control.

According to reports, the fire erupted from a pile of lithium batteries stacked in the external yard area within the facility. Sounds of explosions were heard and thick fumes of smoke were seen spreading soon. However, none of the buildings in the site were damaged. G&P Batteries stated that the fire was confined to the waste battery stock and that the operations at the site were unaffected. A clean-up operation is already underway in the site.

The exact cause of the fire is still unknown. However the company’s fire investigation team said that the accidental fire was started by short-circuit of one of the batteries.

Earlier in 2008, the same facility was hit by a serious fire, causing considerable damage to the facility and destroying over 90% of the buildings.

Founded in 1979, G & P Batteries is the UK’s leading authority on waste battery collection and recycling. It offers nationwide service for the collection of every kind of waste battery or battery powered appliance.