Fire crews battle bin lorry fire in Plymouth city centre

The fire was started by a battery

Fire crews have been battling a battery fire in the city centre this morning, Friday, October 4. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue crews were called to the scene of a fire on Bath Street, near the Pavillions, earlier this morning.

The fire broke out in the rubbish container of a recycling lorry. It is believed that the fire was ignited by a lithium-ion battery, the fire service has said.

Pictures taken from the scene show smoke pouring from a lorry near the new hotel. An eyewitness has told PlymouthLive: "There is a bin lorry on fire behind the Moxy Hotel."

The fire has now been extinguished, but firefighters remain at the scene to cool the source and prevent reignition.

A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said: "We are currently in attendance on Bath Street in Plymouth after being called to a fire located in the rubbish compartment of a recycling lorry that is believed to have been caused by a lithium-ion battery.

"The fire has been extinguished and crews are currently using breathing apparatus, hose reel jets, a safety jet and thermal imaging cameras to cool the source and prevent reignition."