The Dangers of Lithium Batteries: Hopper Fire

On Thursday, February 19, 2026, one of our garbage truck drivers running a route near McAndrews Road and Crater Lake Avenue in Medford experienced a fire in the hopper of our garbage truck. As soon as our driver became aware of the situation, he immediately drove (as trained) to an open space, away from homes and other vehicles, where the burning load could be safely dumped and extinguished. We are grateful for our driver’s quick decision-making and appropriate actions. We wish to express our sincere gratitude to first responders, including Medford Fire Dept, Medford Police Dept, and 911, for their prompt and professional response to this dangerous situation.

The cause of this fire is still under investigation; however, because batteries are the leading cause of fires in landfills, transfer stations and refuse vehicles, please let this serve as an important reminder that batteries of any kind should never be thrown away in trash and recycle carts.

To learn more about benefits and hazards of batteries, and how to dispose of them properly, please click here.

We appreciate our community’s help in properly and safely disposing or recycling unwanted materials. It takes all of us to be great stewards of public health & safety, our environment, and giving future generations the brightest future possible!