Rubbish dumped over Oxford road after bin lorry fire

The binmen were doing their rounds in Sandy Lane, Blackbird Leys on Wednesday morning, June 17, when flames came from the back.

At this stage, it’s not clear what was in the lorry to cause the fire, but the most common cause of bin lorry fires is from batteries and vapes thrown into regular household bins.

A spokesman from ODS said: “This morning, one of our recycling vehicles experienced a fire in Blackbird Leys after an item was incorrectly placed in the recycling bin.

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“Following advice from the fire brigade, the crew emptied the waste to prevent the fire from spreading.

“We’re pleased to confirm that no crew members were injured.

“Our highways team has now finished clearing the ejected waste, and our streets team is carrying out a litter pick and sweep to ensure the area is left clean and safe.

Bin lorry fire in Blackbird Leys (Image: ODS)

Bin lorry fire in Blackbird Leys (Image: ODS)

“At this stage, we are hopeful that collections in the Blackbird Leys ward will not be affected, as the team is working to adjust rounds so services can continue as normal.

“A big thank you to the crew and the Fire Brigade for their quick and professional response.

“Incidents like this highlight the importance of disposing of waste correctly to keep everyone safe.”

Oxfordshire County Council has been approached for further details from the fire service.

Ward councillor Linda Smith said: “I’m very relieved to hear no one was hurt.

“I don’t have any information as of yet about what caused the fire – but please do not place electrical items, vapes or batteries in your bin.”