Lithium battery fires are rare. But they are spectacular, especially when they occur at storage sites. This was the case in France, for example, when:
- A building containing 900 tonnes of lithium batteries in Aveyron in February 2024;
- Two storage containers in Puy-de-Dôme in December 2023;
- 200 batteries stored in an Algeco in Port Ouest, La Réunion.
Each time, thick, bad-smelling smoke was quickly spread. What’s more, it’s difficult for firefighters today to get these fires under control quickly. They have to:
- Reduce the heating temperature of the batteries to limit their thermal runaway, generally using a large quantity of water to drown them;
- Contain the flames to prevent their spread before the fire can be extinguished.
But what about the consequences of these fires and the smoke they emit into the air? What about the use of water to lower the temperature, which can run off into the ground? Is there a risk of pollution? Health risks? These are all questions that arise when lithium batteries catch fire.
What are the risks of these batteries?
Like many other technologies, they are not exempt from risks that can arise throughout their lifecycle. The main ones are:
- a short circuit;
- mechanical shock;
- deep discharge;
- an increase in the temperature of the ambient air.
These risks can lead to lithium batteries exploding, running riot or even catching fire. That’s why they must always be stored, handled, maintained and used with care and in strict accordance with regulations. Prevention is the best way to avoid accidents.
What are the consequences if these batteries catch fire?
Fires involving the lithium batteries in electric vehicles are very impressive, giving off thick black smoke. They are difficult for firefighters to control and extinguish, but when they do, what are the environmental and health risks?
The batteries in cars, bicycles, scooters, and other electrical devices contain an electrolytic fluid, a conductive salt. But when it burns, it can release hydrofluoric acid, which is toxic.
But it’s not the only substance that goes up in smoke when batteries burn. Others include nickel, manganese, cobalt, and plastic. We should also add to this list the materials used in the manufacture of warehouses and storage facilities. When a fire breaks out, all of these materials will burn, releasing smoke, dust and soot that will be released into the air and then onto the ground. Their spread can also be accelerated by the wind, causing pollution.
For this reason, analyses are carried out after a fire to determine any environmental impact. For example, air samples are taken to assess air quality and determine if there are any risks to the surrounding community. Samples may also be taken from drinking water catchments and reservoirs and surface waters to determine if they have been contaminated by the fire.
While the results of these analyses are not always convincing to environmental groups, they recognize the need to better inform the French public:
- the risks associated with the production, storage, use and recycling of lithium batteries
- the preventive measures to be taken to avoid fires.