Battery fire contained at Invenergy storage facility near Grand Ridge, Illinois

A fire broke out on 19 July 2021 at Invenergy's Grand Ridge Energy Storage facility on 25th Road, near La Salle Generation Station in La Salle County, Illinois. The La Salle County Emergency Management Agency reported the fire was contained and did not pose an immediate threat to the public. No evacuations were ordered. Firefighters, including crews from Marseilles, responded to the scene and worked to extinguish the fire, with smoke visible into the afternoon. As a precaution, the Illinois EPA conducted air sampling in the area. Officials noted this incident differed in type from a recent battery fire in Morris, Illinois, which had caused evacuations. Access to the facility driveway was closed and media were kept back from the site. The facility is described as one of the largest operating lithium-ion battery storage projects in the world by power rating.

1. Battery storage fires can vary significantly in behaviour and risk profile, so emergency responders should assess each incident individually rather than assuming outcomes from prior events.
2. Precautionary air quality sampling by environmental agencies can help reassure the public even when evacuation is not deemed necessary.
3. Clear public communication distinguishing the nature and severity of different battery incidents can help manage community concern following prior high-profile events.

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