Is the battery storage facility still on fire in Otay Mesa?
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Cal Fire released an update Sunday regarding the battery storage facility that first caught fire a week and a half ago in Otay Mesa.
Though it had been briefly contained, Cal Fire announced on Friday, May 17 that the blaze had reignited after initially starting the Wednesday prior.
The Gateway Storage Energy facility, located in the 600 block of Paseo de la Fuente, is the site of the blaze.
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Fire officials warned that it could take weeks to entirely put out the fire due to the presence lithium-ion batteries.
“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,” explained Capt. Brent Pascua with Cal Fire San Diego last week.
To explain further, a 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.
On Tuesday, Cal Fire reported that there was currently no visible smoke or active fire at the scene. However, firefighters were remaining on standby to monitor air quality and water runoff.
In another update Sunday, Cal Fire said there have been no instances of thermal runaway for over two days. Nonetheless, the risk still exists. Firefighters will continue to actively engage as property managers and contractors work to stabilize the batteries.
A road closure remains in place near Camino de la Fuente at Paseo de la Fuente.
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