Electric bin lorry bursts into flames in central London


Electric bin lorry bursts into flames in central London

Published 28 October 2024 An electric bin lorry burst into flames on Monday, forcing roads across London’s West End to close. Specialist crews were deployed to the fire after the £580,000 electric lorry caught alight in the morning. The lithium battery-powered trucks were recently launched under Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, as part of a green Westminster City Council initiative to reduce carbon emissions in the capital. Oxford Street and Duke Street were closed following the incident as firefighting operations and investigations continued. Photographs show smoke rising from the stationary lorry, with rubbish and other shrapnel surrounding the vehicle. Firefighters are seen trying to put out the flames. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) sent three teams from Paddington and a specialist Fire Rescue Unit (FRU) to the incident to deal with the risks posed by the electric vehicle such as potential reignition and toxic fumes. Emergency responders used specialised tools, including disc cutters and saws, to create access points on the vehicle’s side, allowing them to tackle flames deep within. All occupants of the truck escaped without injury. Westminster City Council has said it will be conducting a full investigation into the cause of the fire, focusing on possible electrical faults. The council had introduced 45 battery-powered bin lorries last July. Initially rolled out as a part of a Government-sponsored trial, the £20 million fleet is based at a “specially designed” council depot in Bermondsey. Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg of Westminster Council said last summer that the “trailblazing electrification” would improve air quality and reduce CO2 emissions by 2,000 tonnes per year. Mr Khan said in February ahead of the fleet’s full introduction to service: “I take pride in the fact that local authorities in London were amongst the first in the country to trial and deploy electric, zero emissions vehicles to deliver frontline waste collection and street cleansing services.” The British-built vehicles were made by Warwick-based Dennis Eagle and are operated by waste contractor Veolia.