Carmagnola waste truck catches fire due to discarded lithium batteries

A waste collection truck caught fire in Carmagnola while returning to a recovery and disposal plant. The incident was detected by a passerby who noticed thick smoke emanating from the container.

The driver managed to stop the vehicle safely and unloaded the collected material onto the asphalt to prevent the flames from consuming the entire truck. Firefighters arrived and worked for over an hour to extinguish the fire, clear the road, and secure the vehicle.

Investigations revealed that the fire was caused by lithium batteries from an electronic cigarette that had been incorrectly discarded in a plastic recycling bin. The mechanical compression of these devices during transport can cause short circuits and sparks, highlighting the danger of placing batteries in standard domestic recycling streams instead of designated collection points.