Recent Lithium Battery Fires
CATL Battery Plant Fujian Province, China Sept. 2024
On Sunday, September 29, 2024 two industries faced devastating fires: the lithium-ion battery manufacturing giant CATL in southeastern Fujian province in China, and the BioLab chemical plant in Georgia. Both incidents underscore major safety concerns. In this video, I discuss what went wrong, the environmental hazards, and why we need to rethink safety protocols in both battery and chemical manufacturing plants.
Click below to watch video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_KptFv8d9o
Port of Montreal, PQ Sept. 2024
Residents, chemists and firefighters are raising concerns about prevention and emergency preparedness after 15,000 kilograms of lithium batteries inside a shipping container caught fire at the Port of Montreal on Monday.
"Around 6 p.m., I started smelling something chemical in my place," said Lia Chauvel, who lives about two kilometres from the port. "Like at 7 p.m., I get a text from the city. I thought it was spam."
The fire started at 2:40 p.m. About two hours later, the city issued a precautionary lockdown notice through landlines to some nearby residents. A reminder alert was sent at 6:51 p.m.
At 6:53 p.m., the Mercier—Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough posted a warning on Facebook, and the comment section quickly filled with residents saying they were never notified or didn't see the post until much later.
Click below to watch video:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-lithium-battery-fire-concerns-1.7336652
Escondido, CA Sept. 2024
In Escondido, California, a battery energy storage facility fire has caused significant disruptions. This video provides a comprehensive analysis of the event, detailing the emergency response, the ongoing risks, and the crucial safety measures needed to mitigate future incidents. Learn about the impact on the community and the future of battery storage systems.
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I -15 HWY. San Bernardino County, CA July, 2024
A flipped semi-truck carrying a lithium-ion battery storage system led to a fiery crisis on California's I-15. This video delves into the technical challenges of handling such hazardous materials and the precautions needed to prevent disasters. Learn about the role of these energy storage systems in our grid and why transporting them can be perilous. The incident underscores the importance of safety protocols when dealing with volatile energy systems, especially in high-temperature environments like the desert.
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Hwaseong, South Korea June, 2024
An explosion at Aricell’s lithium metal battery factory in Hwaseong city in South Korea killed 23 workers in late June 2024. Most of the dead were low paid and undocumented female migrant workers from China who had not received properly training in industrial safety, according to their family members.
It was South Korea’s deadliest industrial accident to date for foreign workers, according to migrant advocates. They say the high foreign casualties exposed the lack of protection for migrant workers’ rights and safety in South Korea, a country that increasingly depends on labor from abroad as its population ages.
Over the last 25 years, South Korea’s number of deaths from industrial accidents per capita has steadily declined. But the proportion of foreigners among the deaths has increased, up from 7% in 2010 to 10.4% last year, according to the country’s Labor Ministry.
Click below to read more:
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/05/g-s1-8541/south-korea-deadly-fire-migrant-workers
Otay Mesa, CA May, 2024
The Gateway Energy Storage System in Otay Mesa, California, experienced a catastrophic fire when its batteries went into thermal runaway. Firefighters were on the scene for 15 days, battling to contain the blaze. Learn about the incident, the risks involved, and what this means for the energy storage industry.
Click below to watch video: