Full Breakdown
Lithium Battery Fire at La Verne Water Facility Triggers Evacuations and Ongoing Monitoring
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Incident Overview
A lithium-ion battery storage unit at the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) facility on Wheeler Avenue in La Verne ignited shortly after 11:40 a.m., prompting an immediate response from the La Verne Fire Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department. One employee sustained minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital. Firefighters contained the fire by early afternoon and continued to monitor the site for residual heat.
Immediate Impact on Community
The fire led to evacuation orders for roughly 185 nearby properties and shelter-in-place directives for several schools, including Grace Miller Elementary, Ramona Middle School, Bonita High School, Holy Name of Mary School, Damien High School, and the University of La Verne, which canceled all classes. By late afternoon most orders were downgraded to warnings, but about 200 homes remained under evacuation orders the following day. An evacuation shelter was opened at the La Verne Community Center (3680 D St).
Ongoing Safety Measures and Monitoring
After the fire was extinguished, crews detected rising temperatures in an adjacent battery unit, climbing about 20 °F to the low 90s by the next morning. A second storage system showed signs of thermal runaway later Tuesday evening; crews applied water and deployed air-monitoring equipment. Hazardous-materials specialist Ernie Hernandez reported that monitoring detected no hazardous battery components in the vapor plume.
Official Statements & Responses
- The Metropolitan Water District affirmed that its water supply was not affected.
- La Verne Fire Chief Brandon Coatney said the first battery system had stabilized, with the heat signature decreasing and no hazardous plume observed.
- Battalion Chief Mark Savage noted the fire was unprecedented at the facility and that additional heat could exacerbate the situation, prompting continued cooling efforts.
- Ernie Hernandez confirmed air-monitoring results showed non-detects for toxic battery by-products.
Verbatim Quotes
- “These things do not like any kind of additional heat, and the understanding is, there is something going on with that bank now that it is reacting to the previous heat that it was exposed to,” — Batt. Chief Mark Savage
- “In La Verne, we've never seen these kind of things.” — Metropolitan Water District
- “Later in the day, we were able to get that first battery storage system to a relatively stable point, to where it was not putting off any hazardous plume and the heat signature had gone down quite a bit,” — Brandon Coatney
- “We immediately deployed our air monitors, checking for all battery components coming off that fluid, that smoke,” — Ernie Hernandez
Data Summary
- Estimated number of lithium batteries in the storage facility: fewer than 20.
- Injuries: one employee with minor injuries.
- Properties initially ordered to evacuate: ~185; homes remaining under evacuation orders the next day: ~200.
- Temperature increase in the adjacent unit: ~20 °F, reaching the low 90s °F.
- Air-quality monitoring: no hazardous toxins detected.
What’s Next
Evacuation orders for the immediate vicinity of the MWD facility remain in effect while fire crews continue to monitor temperature levels and battery integrity. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and officials will maintain cooling measures until the risk of further thermal runaway is eliminated.