Firefighters in France have been battling a blaze at a storage site for some 900 tons of lithium-ion batteries, according to Le Monde newspaper.
The fire broke out Saturday at a warehouse owned by recycling firm Société Nouvelle d’Affinage des Métaux in the town of Viviez in Aveyron prefecture, the French newspaper reported Sunday, citing local authorities and
TV reports.
A warehouse storing 900 tons of lithium batteries waiting to be recycled went up in flames this afternoon, amid growing fears over their dangers.
The fire in France occurred at a storehouse in the town in Viviez in Aveyron, and residents were told to stay indoors by authorities.
Lithium batteries, integral to various electrical devices including smartphones and electric vehicles, are known to pose fire risks when exposed to heat, raising alarms about the environmental and health implications of the ongoing fire.
In a similar incident in January 2023, a massive fire erupted at a warehouse storing car components and thousands of lithium batteries in Normandy, although authorities managed to contain the blaze without causing casualties.
Despite assurances from firefighters regarding the absence of dangerous air pollution, concerns persist about the potential release of toxic materials into the environment as a result of the ongoing fire at the Viviez facility.
According to reports, thick smoke billowed over the Viviez site, with up to 70 firefighters deployed to combat the inferno, as depicted by French media.
Locals were ordered to keep their doors and window closed as the thick smoke engulfed the town. No injuries or deaths were reported.
Lithium batteries, found in e-scooters, are the fastest growing fire risk in London with the London Fire Brigade called to an e-bike or scooter fire once every two days on average last year.
The fire in France has once again raised questions around the use and safety concerning the batteries.
Jean-Louis Denoit, the mayor of Viviez, called the fire ‘shocking’ and told French news outlet BFMTV: ‘There is indeed reason to ask questions about the function of electric vehicles and lithium batteries.’
The fire comes amid proposals in the UK to build one of Europe’s largest battery storage sites in Buckinghamshire has been met with fierce criticism.
More than 200 residents have lodged objections to Statera Energy’s plans to construct the 500 megawatt facility on fields at Rookery Farm.
The developers have planned to ‘strip the topsoil’ and build 888 full-sized shipping containers to accommodate the batteries, which will be surrounded by a 2.5m high steel mesh fence.
The energy firm also wants to build 37 inverter houses, three storage containers, seven control rooms, four fire water storage tanks, a large customer substation and a welfare unit.
Peoplesmind