Improper disposal of a lithium-ion battery caused a garbage truck fire Wednesday.

The Menands Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire on Wolfert Road. The fire was quickly extinguished.

Fire officials said that these lithium-ion batteries, commonly found in devices such as cell phones, laptops and power tools, can pose fire hazards if not disposed of correctly. These batteries can ignite when exposed to high temperatures, as was the case in this incident.

They should not be thrown in the trash but taken to designated recycling or disposal centers.