By Ciara Perez, Investigative Journalist | iSkyCreations – News & Media (ISC)
Published Feb 3rd, 2024
St. Cloud, FL – What started as an ordinary day of trash collection took a sudden and fiery turn, all thanks to an old laptop left in a bulk trash pile. A routine act of discarding unwanted items quickly reminded us of the hazards lurking in our everyday gadgets when the discarded computer burst into flames.
The local heroes at St. Cloud Fire Rescue Department were on the scene in no time, putting out the fire and ensuring the safety of everyone around. It’s worth noting the bravery of the clam truck driver who, in a valiant attempt to douse the flames with a fire extinguisher, thankfully remained unharmed. It was a close call that could have easily turned into a disaster.
Photo byCity of St. Cloud, Florida
This incident serves as a wake-up call for all of us about the importance of proper disposal of hazardous materials. It’s easy to forget that our everyday electronics, like the laptop that sparked this blaze, need more care in disposal than our regular trash. The City of St. Cloud is reminding everyone that there’s a safe place for these items at the City Transfer Station on 2705 Peghorn Way. Here, you can drop off electronic waste, batteries, laptops, and other hazardous household items free of charge, no strings attached.