Jacksonville, NC – A fire started in a sanitation truck due to lithium batteries being incorrectly disposed of. According to the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, this type of battery disposal is illegal. When the batteries were pushed into the back of the truck with flammable waste, they combusted and a fire erupted. The sanitation workers in the truck noticed the fire and worked to control the fire using a portable extinguisher. With help from the fire department, the fire was able to be completely doused and no one was harmed. Little damage to the truck was reported and it remains operational.