A discarded peroxide-based hair dye product is believed to have caused a fire in a refuse collection truck, with Hightown firefighters responding to reports of smoke emanating from the burning vehicle at approximately half past eight yesterday morning.
Fire crews attended the scene after smoke was spotted coming from the waste collection vehicle. The truck was subsequently driven back to the depot facility on Botley Road in Hedge End, where workers emptied the lorry’s contents to enable firefighters to locate and put out the small blaze.
Investigators suspect the hair colouring product ignited when it was compressed within the truck, with temperatures rising above 100 degrees during the compaction process.
Local residents are being urged to dispose of peroxide-containing products responsibly by transporting them to their nearest Hazardous Waste Recycling Centre rather than placing them in standard household refuse.
The fire service personnel returned to their station shortly after 9am following the successful resolution of the incident.
