Fire crews were rushed to a household waste and recycling centre in Manston on Sunday afternoon, 17 May, following reports of an active blaze.
A single fire engine from Kent Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the scene on Half Mile Road shortly after 2:45 pm.
Upon investigation, firefighters discovered that the scare was caused by a discarded mobile phone that had overheated among the general household waste, though thankfully no actual fire had broken out.
After ensuring the area was completely safe, crews handed responsibility back to the site staff and left the scene just after 3:00 pm. Following the incident, Kent Fire and Rescue Service issued a warning reminding the public to always dispose of batteries and rechargeable electronics responsibly, rather than tossing them into standard household bins, in order to prevent dangerous emergencies.