Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that a damaged lithium-ion battery, most likely from a disposable vape that was incorrectly disposed of, accidentally caused the massive blaze that tore through a recycling facility in Widnes on Monday, June 22. The fire sent thick black smoke billowing across Merseyside and Cheshire, with ash raining down on nearby homes and a major incident declared.
Fire Details and Response
The fire broke out at around 4:30pm at the recycling plant on Everite Road, spreading rapidly through the single-storey building, which measured approximately 50 metres by 50 metres. Initially, firefighters believed around 700 tonnes of waste cardboard were involved, but a later assessment found that about 450 tonnes of waste, from a total of around 550 tonnes stored inside, had been affected.
At the height of the response, 20 fire engines from across Cheshire, supported by crews from Lancashire and Greater Manchester, were at the scene alongside a high-volume pump and foam tanker. Firefighters were forced to tackle the blaze from outside due to concerns the structure could collapse. No casualties were reported, and all people at the site were accounted for.
Cause of the Fire
In an update on Monday, June 29, the fire service confirmed the fire was accidentally started by a damaged lithium-ion battery. A spokesperson for the service said: "It is thought that the damaged battery entered thermal runaway, generating intense heat which ignited cardboard within a pile of waste awaiting recycling. Driven by strong winds, the fire spread rapidly, resulting in multiple separate areas of the waste stockpile becoming involved."
The spokesperson added: "This incident highlights the importance of disposing of vapes and other lithium-ion battery-powered items correctly, as damaged batteries can pose a significant fire risk if placed in general waste or recycling."
Impact on Surrounding Area
People across Merseyside reported seeing the smoke plume from miles away, with pictures sent in from locations including West Derby, Page Moss, Bickerstaffe, and Runcorn. Architecture student Arwen Rose captured footage of the smoke from the roof of Liverpool's Royal Liver Building. Ash was reported falling onto nearby streets, including Coronation Drive, and debris was carried as far as Aintree, where one resident wrote on social media: "I thought a feather was floating down while in the garden. No, it's ash from the fire at the recycling centre in Widnes... I'm in Aintree."
Witnesses also described hearing several explosions throughout the evening. An ECHO photographer at the scene reported hearing several loud bangs, while another nearby resident said she and her partner first noticed the incident after hearing "small bangs" before seeing smoke rising into the sky.
