Fire contained at Waste and Recycling Centre

A fire at the Lethbridge Waste and Recycling Centre highlights the importance of proper battery disposal.

Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services (LFES) responded to a structure fire at the Lethbridge Waste and Recycling Centre’s Material Recovery Facility on Thursday, October 9, at approximately 5:15 p.m. 

The facility’s sprinkler system activated quickly and contained the fire before firefighters arrived. Crews encountered a smoke-filled environment and worked to ensure the fire was fully extinguished. No damage occurred to the equipment or facility, which is expected to reopen today.

This incident highlights the effectiveness of automatic sprinkler suppression systems in preventing major loss. 

Nobody was injured in the fire. An investigation into the cause is underway, though early evidence suggests it may have involved an improperly disposed battery. 

As part of Fire Prevention Week, LFES reminds residents to recycle batteries responsibly. 

Batteries can ignite and explode if they are discarded in curbside waste carts. They pose a significant risk to Waste and Environment employees and other residents. To help prevent these fires, the City of Lethbridge has launched a curbside battery recycling pilot program running from November 18 to 28. Read more about the new curbside battery recycling program. 

Residents can learn how to properly dispose of batteries and other hazardous materials by downloading the free Lethbridge Loop app or using the Waste Wizard tool online to look up proper disposal methods for all types of batteries and tricky waste items.

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