Truck Carrying Used Batteries Catches Fire in Henan; Driver Steers Clear of Downtown, Warns Bystanders Away

Recently, in Sangcun Township, Hua County, Henan Province, a truck carrying used batteries caught fire while driving through a busy township street, with thick smoke billowing from the rear of the vehicle. At the time, the street was crowded with pedestrians and vehicles. Instead of stopping immediately, the driver continued driving to an open area before pulling over. Witnesses reported that the fire was still small in its initial stage, and some residents grabbed fire extinguishers and chased the burning truck on bicycles for about half a kilometer, ready to help. After stopping, the driver quickly prevented bystanders from approaching, explaining that the cargo consisted of used batteries and that ordinary fire extinguishers would be ineffective—professional firefighting assistance was required. Police soon arrived to maintain order, and some locals helped extinguish the visible flames at the truck’s cab using fire extinguishers. Firefighters later arrived and fully extinguished the blaze. The driver sustained no injuries in the incident. According to the driver, the used batteries onboard spontaneously ignited due to weather conditions. Vehicles transporting waste lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries can experience intense combustion or even explosions once ignited, making such fires particularly difficult to control. During hot summer months, vehicles carrying batteries or other new-energy-related cargo should thoroughly inspect their condition before departure to mitigate the risk of spontaneous combustion.