A recycling truck driver in Oxenford, on the Gold Coast, has been praised online after quickly dumping his burning load in an empty carpark, avoiding a potentially serious fire. Firefighters were called out on Friday afternoon after a suspected vape battery ignited inside the truck's load, and footage of the driver diverting off the main road and emptying the bin's contents onto the tarmac went viral, with many commenters saying he "deserves a raise" for his fast thinking.

The blaze is believed to have been caused by a discarded vape, which contains lithium batteries that can catch fire when crushed by rubbish trucks. Gold Coast councillor Naomi Fowler shared the footage, confirming nobody was hurt and no collections were missed, while urging residents to dispose of items correctly. Notably, the truck itself displayed a council reminder to "know what goes in your recycling bin," part of a wider campaign warning that batteries pose a fire risk if binned rather than taken to dedicated drop-off points at retailers such as Woolworths, Bunnings, Coles and Aldi. Some commenters, including a self-described bin worker, said such fires remain a persistent problem despite awareness campaigns.