Small fire at GT dump (photo credit: DEH)(CNS): The Department of Environmental Health continues to battle fires caused by batteries thrown out with the general trash instead of being disposed of properly. While the cause remains under investigation, preliminary information indicates that the fire originated in freshly placed garbage. DEH and CIFS personnel continue working together to wet down the affected area and monitor the site to prevent any recurrence. Meanwhile, the DEH is urging residents to exercise caution when disposing of household waste, particularly batteries and other potentially flammable materials. Residents are asked not to put batteries in general household garbage, as damaged or improperly discarded batteries, especially rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, can ignite when crushed or punctured during waste collection and handling, posing a significant fire risk to staff, waste management facilities and the wider community.