06/03/2026
We want to thank the Plainfield Township Fire Department, all assisting agencies, and our staff for their quick response last night in putting out a fire at our North Kent Transfer Station. Fortunately, nobody was injured and the damage is minimal. The fire was controlled and put out within an hour of it starting.
The cause is still being investigated but we believe it was likely caused by a lithium-ion battery. These batteries should never be thrown in your trash or recycling and should be taken somewhere to be properly disposed of. When lithium-ion batteries end up in the trash or recycling, they can be crushed and damaged during collection and processing. This can cause them to spark and start fires in collection trucks, at transfer stations, in recycling facilities, and at landfills. Lithium-ion battery fires are becoming something waste workers encounter all too often. They put workers at risk, damage equipment, and can disrupt waste and recycling operations.
Through our SafeChem program, we have five convenient locations throughout the county where residents can bring lithium-ion batteries and other household hazardous waste for proper disposal. Visit kentcountymi.gov/safechem to find the locations and hours.
The posted videos show the fire burning inside the North Kent Transfer Station. See Plainfield Township Fire Department's post for full details about the firefighting response.
