An extensive battle against a challenging blaze at an Otay Mesa energy storage facility concluded Thursday afternoon, with firefighters dousing toxic fumes and incessant smoke that had beheld them for over a day. According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, the facility, housing lithium-ion batteries, incited concerns for potential explosions and toxic fumes, which led to an evacuation warning for nearby businesses and a shelter-in-place order at Donovan State Prison.
The fire, which began at roughly 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, necessitated 600-foot safety precautions around the Gateway Energy Storage facility as air monitors indicated high levels of hydrogen. To saturate the batteries with water, firefighters swiftly pumped copious amounts into the building's sprinkler system. The tactics seemed to have paid off by Thursday afternoon, when protective gear-clad firefighters managed to open the facility's doors, finally squelching the fire.
Cal Fire Captain Mike Cornette conveyed to CAL FIRE San Diego's social media update that the fire extinguisher handed the clean-up reins over to the property manager's hazardous materials team, as no structure damage was reported. This maneuver also ensures continued monitoring of the air to certify safety.
The firefight involved about 50 firefighters and county and city hazardous materials teams. Aiding their efforts, an unmanned robot and drone were deployed to scrutinize the fire, administer air quality assessments, and record temperature readings. "This is a very slow process," remarked Cal Fire spokesperson Capt. Brent Pascua emphasizes the importance of cautious advancement due to the potential for battery fires to flare up explosively.
The incident comes amidst California's driven transition to greener energy solutions, with battery storage facilities being a pivotal component in the plan. LS Power's Gateway facility, acclaimed as the world's largest battery storage project upon its 2020 opening, is a critical piece in this eco-friendly puzzle. It captures low-cost clean energy from solar panels during the day to meet peak evening demand. Despite this, the recent fire renews scrutiny and trepidation surrounding the safety of such storage facilities, echoing concerns raised by residents over a proposed project in North County. JP Theberge, part of a group opposed to the project, told The San Diego Union-Tribune, "This reinforces neighbors’ concerns about the placement of these facilities."
