Battery storage explosion at Saint-Esprit poultry farm forces evacuation in Martinique

On the evening of 29 September 2023, an explosion occurred in a lithium-ion battery storage container at the SICA Madras poultry farm in the Peter Maillet district of Saint-Esprit, Martinique. The blast was felt by at least 300 nearby households and blew out windows in the closest homes, prompting the evacuation of some residents. A fire then broke out and spread to a storage module containing around 400 additional batteries. Around twenty firefighters from several barracks, supported by utility agents, brought the fire under control after roughly three hours using a water curtain to limit toxic fume exposure followed by powder and foam extinguishing agents. No injuries were reported. The energy storage system, which supported the site's photovoltaic panels, was destroyed, and the poultry farm was left without electricity. Estimated financial losses exceeded one million euros.

The fire followed an explosion attributed in initial reports to a lithium battery within the storage container; a detailed root cause was not published in available sources.

1. Fire services responding to BESS incidents should use water curtains to protect nearby residents from toxic combustion gases before applying powder or foam suppressants.
2. Coordination with the electricity utility to de-energise and isolate affected battery modules is critical to safely controlling BESS fires.
3. Post-incident monitoring patrols over an extended period help detect reignition risk and support lessons-learned reviews.
4. Communities and emergency responders near solar-plus-storage installations benefit from advance briefing on the explosion and toxic gas risks associated with lithium-ion battery failures.

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