Otay Mesa battery facility fire could take weeks to put out entirely

Credit: Kasia Gregorczyk, May 22, 2024 | fox5sandiego.com ~~

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A stubborn fire at a battery storage site in Otay Mesa is burning for a sixth day. Fire officials are preparing for it to potentially take weeks to put out.

“We’re not sure. We’re preparing for the worst and making plans to be here for a long time, two to four weeks and will reevaluate then,” said Captain Brent Pascua with Cal Fire San Diego.

The fire began last Wednesday at the Gateway Energy Storage facility and flare-ups over the weekend put evacuations warnings for the surrounding area back in place.

Pascua said things began to reignite Friday night.

“You have to put water on it to keep the fire confined, but that water damages the batteries also allowing them to arc starting another fire. We’re just trying to keep the public safe and keep the fire contained to the building,” he said.

The chain reaction can happen when a lithium-ion battery creates heat faster than it can dissipate. That rapid increase of temperature can then turn to fire.

Cal Fire reports there is now major damage to the building, including the roof.

“Here in the middle of nowhere and it’s still dangerous. The facility being proposed in La Mesa is in a highly concentrated urban area,” said La Mesa Vice Mayor Laura Lothian.

The fire has captured the attention of North County residents opposing the Seguro battery storage site and now those living in La Mesa where another battery facility is in the works.
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“Hasty to say the least to be building these things without thinking it all the way through,” Lothian said.

According to the Murray Project website, the La Mesa project would use lithium iron phosphate batteries, a reportedly safer option that is emissions free and non-toxic.

In Otay Mesa, officials continue to monitor the air quality and the water runoff to make sure it’s safe for crews to be near. Fire crews are focusing on keeping the fire from spreading to any of the neighboring buildings which also house batteries.

The company operating the Gateway site, Rev Renewables, declined an interview, but said it is continuing to work with fire officials.

Source: Kasia Gregorczyk, May 22, 2024 | fox5sandiego.com

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