The St. John’s Regional Fire Department believes lithium-ion batteries are to blame for two recent fires at the Robin Hood Bay waste management facility.

The most recent fire occurred on Sunday, sending thick smoke over a wide area of the capital city’s east end.

Deputy Chief of Operations Paul Chaytor says throwing lithium ion batteries in the trash often leads to fires.

Once in a landfill, they can be damaged by heavy equipment.

“Once lithium ion is exposed to the air, (the batteries) actually catch on fire, or even explode, and they won’t stop catching on fire and exploding until…the lithium itself is depleted.”

He says the batteries need to be disposed of correctly by dropping them off at battery collection sites.