Battery storage container fire at commercial site in Brantford, Ontario

What happened

A single 40 foot lithium-ion battery energy storage container, roughly three years old and used for peak shaving, caught fire at a commercial site in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. The fire department attended and the cause remained under investigation at the time of reporting. The container was located on the property of a food production business, and the fire did not disrupt that business's operations. Firewater runoff from firefighting efforts reached an on-site retention pond and a nearby creek.

Environmental regulators reported that a gate at the pond outfall was closed quickly, containing most of the firewater, and that impacts to the creek were assessed as minimal with no adverse effects expected. Cleanup of the pond and disposal of contaminated firewater was to be carried out under environmental protection regulations.

Contributing factors

Not reported. The cause of the fire had not been determined at the time of the available reporting.

Lessons learned

1. A lithium-ion battery container fire can produce firewater runoff that reaches a creek, so operators should fit shut-off gates at pond outfalls.
2. A battery fire on a food production site need not halt operations if runoff is contained, so clear protocols should be in place.
3. A three-year-old lithium-ion battery container fire requires prompt regulator contact to limit ecological harm, so sites should plan for this.

More lessons on fire suppression and firefighting, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

• Exact cause of the fire
• Battery container model
• Cost of pond cleanup and disposal

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

ctvnews.ca