Battery storage fire at Automotive Campus, Helmond reignites days later

On Christmas Day 2023, a fire was reported in a mobile battery energy storage container, manufactured by Dens, at the Automotive Campus in Helmond, Netherlands. On arrival, fire crews found flames and flaring from lithium-ion battery cells consistent with thermal runaway. Three other battery containers stood nearby, close enough that fire spread was possible. Crews initially worked defensively, using water to shield the adjacent units, then disconnected them from the grid and relocated them, one manually and two using a heavy-lift vehicle brought in by the equipment owner. After considering several stabilisation options, responders chose continuous cooling of the burning unit. The fire was brought to a stable state and handed back to the company on 30 December. However, in the early hours of that night, the fire reignited after the container had appeared extinguished, triggering a further emergency response to control it again.

The nearest primary water supply was found not to be working, delaying initial fire fighting. The battery containers were parked close together, creating a risk of fire spread between units. Two of the adjacent containers were too heavy (around 30 tonnes) for the fire brigade's own equipment to move, requiring the owner's heavy-lift vehicle. The installed aerosol fire suppression system's activation and effectiveness could not be confirmed. Thermal runaway in lithium-ion cells made the fire difficult to fully extinguish, contributing to a later reignition.

1. Confirm the functionality of water supplies serving battery storage sites before and during incidents, and have back-up water transport arranged in advance.
2. Maintain sufficient separation between containerised battery units to reduce the risk of fire spreading from one unit to neighbouring systems.
3. Plan for the possibility of reignition after a battery fire appears extinguished, and maintain monitoring and rapid response capability during the aftermath.
4. Ensure emergency plans account for the weight of battery containers, including access to heavy-lift equipment capable of moving fully loaded units if relocation becomes necessary.

nipv.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241128-NIPV-Brand-in-EOS-He...