A warehouse in France storing 900 tons of lithium batteries caught fire Saturday.
The lithium batteries, waiting to be recycled, were stored at a warehouse in the town of Viviez in Aveyron.
According to reports, authorities told residents to stay indoors and close their doors and windows.
The blaze caused thick smoke to engulf the town, Daily Mail reports
“The fire broke out on Saturday in a warehouse owned by French recycling group SNAM in Viviez, north of Toulouse, local councillor Pascal Mazet said,” France 24 noted.
“Viviez fire battery storage. Support for the SDIS of Aveyron, the police and the SNAM personnel who came spontaneously in large numbers. All will be on site all night. Courage ! 900 T of batteries,” Mazet wrote on X (translated).
Daily Mail reports:
While the cause of the fire has yet to be confirmed, it took 70 firefighters to get the flames under control.
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.
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