Lithium car battery found to be the cause of fire at recycling center in Fulton
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Emergency crews in Fulton are asking residents to avoid the area around a commercial recycling center after a fire.
The business, David's Recycling, is a local car recycling and scrap yard. It buys old cars and sells the steel and parts.
The City of Fulton shared on social media, alerting residents to a fire near W 7th Street and Airway Drive and W 7th Street and Route F around 11:30 a.m. Police said the smoke could reduce visibility for drivers.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said in a social media post the fire involved 10-15 vehicles.
🚨Recycling Center Fire in Fulton🚨
— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) March 20, 2026
Firefighters are battling a large fire involving 10-15 vehicles at a recycling center in Fulton.
Thick smoke is drifting across U.S. 54.
Please be careful when traveling through the area. pic.twitter.com/0ihyXxvCXw
Central Callaway Fire Chief Greg Luebbert told ABC 17 News that no one was hurt in the fire but an employee operating a piece of machinery came close to being hurt.
Blake David later identified himself as that operator and explained that a lithium car battery was the cause of the blaze.
"The hybrid hybrid situation is, you know, newer," David said. "I pulled the, battery, the main battery out of the vehicle for the motor. When I went to smash it with the trackhoe it completely just blew up."
Luebbert described fires started by lithium batteries as "runaway fires".
"They spread very, very rapidly. This is at least a second extreme fire I've seen from lithium ion batteries," Luebbert said.
David said he had to act quickly following the explosion, despite being in shock.
"Blew me completely out of the crane," David said. "My first thought is we got a quarter million dollar piece of equipment we got to get out of this first."
David said the business has been in his family for three generations. This is not the first time something like this has happened.
"We had a van come in and the battery was still in it, just a regular battery," David said. "It caught on fire and it burned and burned."
David said the situation has opened his eyes and the company will be implementing a new policy going forward.
"I'm going to have a sign up front 'No hybrid batteries' they have to be removed from the vehicles. That would prevent a lot of it," David said.
According to David, the loss will add up to around $250,000 dollars, but he said the money isn't what's important to him right now.
"I'm just lucky you didn't kill me or hurt me really bad," David said.
He also commended the response by law enforcement, but described one challenge they faced with the area.
"The fire hydrants are clear up the road, probably a good half mile to three quarters of a mile. They had to run hoses all the way down here," David said. "By the time they got the hoses down here and the water down here, it had spread to the big pile."
David said the business will be back up and running like normal come Monday, David's Recycling is typically closed on weekends.
He asked future customers to be mindful and open about the features and problems with their car to keep everyone involved in the process as safe as possible.
"When you're bringing stuff to a scrap yard for an extra $2 or $3, don't try to hide something a propane tank, this or that in a car, I'll give you the $2, but that $2 can save my life," David said.
An ABC 17 News photographer on the scene was stopped near Elaine Drive and W 7th Street in Fulton.
One resident told ABC 17 News she heard an explosion around 10:50 a.m. that shook her house. She reported hearing lots of sirens.
The resident shared photos showing parts of cars and other items on fire.
Black smoke was seen coming from the recycling center.
This is a developing story.
