Battery storage suspected in a house fire in Worms, Germany

What happened

On a Saturday, a fire broke out in the basement of a house in the Pfeddersheim district of Worms, Germany. A battery storage unit used to store power from a rooftop photovoltaic system was in the basement where the fire started. The cause is still unclear and under police investigation. A city spokesperson said a battery block may have ignited, perhaps from an external heat source, and that another electrical appliance in the basement could also have started the fire.

A crew of about 50 faced high temperatures and heavy smoke and reportedly flooded the basement with foam. The lithium-ion unit kept reigniting, which led the fire service to an initial view that the battery may have caused the fire. After the fire was out, the unit was inspected; it was reported that the affected pack appeared to have burst, likely from the heat and reignitions, allowing water in to cool it.

Residents were advised to keep doors and windows shut because of smoke. The fire caused a short circuit, and power to the street was cut for a time as a precaution. No residents or responders were reported injured. The house was later described as uninhabitable because toxic substances had spread to the top floor, and the residents were given temporary housing. The full extent of damage was still being assessed.

Contributing factors

A battery storage unit was in the basement where the fire started. Possible causes reported so far include ignition of a battery block, perhaps from an external heat source, or another electrical appliance. The cause has not been established.

Lessons learned

1. Residential battery storage needs a location that fire crews can reach and cool when smoke and heat make access difficult.
2. Lithium-ion units can reignite after the first attack and may need prolonged cooling.
3. Smoke and residues from a battery fire can make a whole dwelling uninhabitable even when no one is injured.

Source

ess-news.com