Improper Battery Disposal Linked to Springfield Scrap Yard Fire

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Investigators have completed their inquiry into the fire that erupted at Chet’s Scrap Metal in Springfield in August, but the cause remains undetermined.

Commissioner B.J. Calvi of the Springfield Fire Department suggested that a lithium-ion battery might have sparked the blaze, based on video evidence.

“The official cause of the fire is still undetermined,” Commissioner Calvi said. “Our hypothesis, based on how the fire started, based on video evidence, is that there was probably a lithium-ion battery that went into the waste stream.”

The fire at Chet’s Scrap Metal was a large four-alarm blaze that sent thick black clouds of smoke into the air over Springfield. Lithium-ion batteries, which are found in devices such as electric bikes, skateboards, power tools, and vacuums, need proper disposal to prevent fires.

Commissioner Calvi emphasized the importance of properly disposing of lithium-ion batteries and noted that several businesses in the greater Springfield area offer recycling services.

For rechargeable batteries and single-use batteries, excluding e-bike batteries, stores like Lowe’s, The Home Depot, and Staples offer recycling options. Specifically for e-bike batteries, Northampton Bicycle on Pleasant Street and Valley Bike and Ski Werks in Hadley are the local options for recycling.

Courtesy: www.wwlp.com