Lithium-ion Battery Blamed for Fargo Landfill Fire

Crews quickly contained the blaze by smothering it with dirt and sand.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:44pm

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A bold, abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric shapes and precise botanical spirals in shades of orange, red, and black against a clean white background, conceptually representing the combustible nature of lithium-ion batteries.An abstract illustration of the volatile chemistry behind lithium-ion batteries, which can ignite dangerous landfill fires when improperly discarded.Fargo Today

A fire broke out at the Fargo landfill early this morning, with officials determining that the likely cause was a lithium-ion battery that should not have been disposed of in the landfill. Fargo Fire crews responded to the scene and worked with landfill staff to extinguish the fire within 30 minutes by covering it with dirt and sand, avoiding the use of water which could have spread the fire.

Why it matters

Lithium-ion batteries pose a serious fire risk when not properly disposed of, as their chemical composition can ignite and fuel landfill fires. This incident highlights the importance of public education around safe battery disposal to prevent such dangerous situations from occurring at waste facilities.

The details

According to landfill supervisor Dustin Halsne, the fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery that should not have been discarded at the landfill. Lithium-ion batteries are known fire hazards and require specialized recycling or disposal methods. Fargo Fire crews worked quickly with landfill staff to smother the fire using dirt and sand, avoiding the use of water which could have spread the flames given the unknown materials present in the landfill.

  • Fargo Fire crews were called to the landfill early this morning around 1 a.m. on a report of smoke.
  • Within approximately 30 minutes, the fire was fully contained by covering it with dirt and sand.

The players

Fargo Fire

The fire department that responded to the landfill fire and worked with staff to extinguish the blaze.

Dustin Halsne

The supervisor at the Fargo landfill who identified the likely cause of the fire as a lithium-ion battery.

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What they’re saying

“Lithium-ion batteries pose a serious fire risk when not properly disposed of, as their chemical composition can ignite and fuel landfill fires.”

— Dustin Halsne, Landfill Supervisor

What’s next

Fargo officials plan to increase public awareness campaigns about the proper disposal of lithium-ion batteries to prevent future landfill fires.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the need for better public education around the fire risks of lithium-ion batteries and the importance of ensuring they are recycled or disposed of through approved channels, rather than ending up in landfills where they can ignite dangerous blazes.