Three of the incidents occurred at Bousteads, Maryport and Frizington HWRCs in Cumberland during August and September 2025, with each fire managed effectively by site teams and emergency responders.
A further fire at Flusco HWRC in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria’s other unitary authority, in early August, was believed to have been caused by a still-lit disposable barbecue.
Cumberland Council praised the swift actions of staff at the facilities.
Councillor Bob Kelly, Executive Member for Cumberland Environment and Planning, said: “These incidents could have had far more serious consequences, and I want to thank the HWRC staff and emergency responders for their quick thinking and calm professionalism.
“Their actions helped protect the public and prevent further damage. We also appreciate the support from contractors and partners who assisted during these events.”
Fires in HWRCs
At Bousteads HWRCs, a fire broke out inside a compactor in early August. Staff immediately evacuated the site and the fire was quickly extinguished, allowing the facility to reopen safely by early afternoon.
The following month, Maryport HWRC experienced a similar incident when a compactor caught fire in early September.
Staff evacuated the site and worked with Cumbria Fire and Rescue to manage the situation, with the affected container being removed and the site reopened the next morning.
Frizington HWRC saw a fire in its wood container during the August bank holiday.
The blaze, which occurred out of hours, was attended by the fire service. Site staff later oversaw the safe removal of the container and introduced additional fire-watch measures.
Batteries and vapes behind fires
Cumberland Council has said the incidents at Bousteads and Maryport were likely caused by hazardous items such as batteries and disposable vapes being disposed of incorrectly.
Such items, if placed in general waste or recycling containers, can ignite under pressure, creating fire risks both at HWRCs and in kerbside collection vehicles.
According to the Environmental Services Association (ESA), battery fires have reached “epidemic” levels in the UK’s waste sector.
The council has urged residents to dispose of batteries and vapes responsibly by using designated recycling points.
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