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Crews called as dumped batteries 'explode' in fire

Asha Patel
BBC News, Nottingham
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service A large pile of scorched lithium-ion batteries that had been discarded near woodland. Two wooden pallets are also amongst the waste pile and a metal crate on its side is on the right of the frame, with a thin yellow tube misting down the scene.Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service
The fire involved two tonnes of discarded lithium-ion batteries, the fire service said

Firefighters used a new misting tool as they were called to a blaze caused by discarded batteries in Nottinghamshire.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service launched the Polaris - a pump with a large thin tube - in August and put it to the test for the first time on Wednesday.

Crews from Tuxford were called to Windmill Lane in Worksop just after 10:15 GMT where two tonnes of lithium-ion batteries had been discarded and were exploding, the fire service said.

The fire service's group manager for north Nottinghamshire, Tom Staples, said more of the tools and vehicles would be brought in soon "to further improve our ability to fight rural fires and access other hard to reach incident types".

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service A small fire service vehicle that looks like a mini truck with a pump attached to the back which is being used to put out a fire in the background of the image. A firefighter can be seen holding the yellow tube attached to the pump to mist a pile of discarded batteries near woodland. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service
The misting unit was introduced in August, with more to be based across other stations

The tool uses a 'misting lance', which is a large thin tube, to push into the fire, which enables firefighters to tackle the fire from the middle, rather than just on top.

It was introduced following a rise in outdoor and rural fires the service was attending.

Mr Staples said: "I'm delighted that the Polaris and L200 vehicles at Tuxford fire station are getting used, especially for the type of incidents we have previously struggled to access with our traditional fire engines."

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service A close-up of a pile of scorched lithium-ion batteriesNottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service
The fire service previously said the misting tool would help to deal with incidents "more effectively"

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