Energy storage facility fire near Otay Mesa, San Diego County
May 2024Published 21 Oct 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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What happened
A fire broke out on 15 May 2024 at a battery and energy storage facility at 641 Camino De La Fuente in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego County, California. The site was described as a 13,600-square-foot battery and energy storage facility in an industrial part of the county, and units were dispatched in the early afternoon. By 25 May, ten days later, firefighters reported improved containment. The evacuation order for one grid zone had been downgraded to a warning, and the evacuation warning for another grid zone had been removed.
A road closure remained in effect on Camino De La Fuente at Paseo De La Fuente. Fifteen personnel were assigned to the fire, and county hazardous materials staff assisted. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Contributing factors
Not reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Lessons learned
- Lithium battery fires at storage sites may burn for many days, so operators and responders should plan for extended firefighting, containment and evacuation arrangements.
- Site operators should provide fire services with current information on battery chemistry, layout and hazardous materials so that response can be targeted.
- Local authorities should consider early road closure planning and hazardous materials support, as these measures were needed at this industrial battery site for days.
More lessons on fire suppression and firefighting, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.
Source
Published 2026-10-21. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
