Interdivisional industrial fire in Morris, 6-29-21

Excerpts from Chicago.cbslocal.com:

Emergency responders are still working to contain a major industrial fire involving lithium-ion batteries in Morris, Illinois, on Wednesday. The incident has led to significant evacuations and ongoing safety concerns for residents in the area.

On Tuesday, people living in parts of Morris were ordered to evacuate due to the dangerous fire. The mandatory evacuation is in place for 24 hours, as the burning lithium batteries release harmful smoke with toxic particulates. The situation has raised serious health concerns for nearby communities.

The fire was first reported at 11:42 a.m. on Tuesday when the Morris Fire Department responded to the 900 block of East Benton Street. The location was the old Federal Paper Board building, which had been repurposed to store a large quantity of lithium batteries. According to the company currently operating at the site—Superior Battery—there were approximately 80 to 100 tons of batteries stored there.

As a result of the fire, officials have ordered an evacuation of the southeast side of Morris. The affected area stretches from Washington Street eastward to Evergreen Cemetery (Cemetery Road), westward to Route 47, and from the railroad tracks in the north down to the river in the south. Residents in this zone are advised not to return until it is deemed safe by authorities.

Lithium fires are particularly challenging because water cannot be used to extinguish them. In fact, lithium reacts violently with water, causing explosions. As a result, firefighters are using alternative methods to smother the flames rather than trying to put them out directly.

Firefighters have stated that their only option is to let the fire burn while maintaining a strong presence on the scene to ensure public safety. “The building is holding up well. It’s keeping the explosions contained inside, so there’s no risk of external damage,” said Chief Tracey Steffes of the Morris Fire Department.

A total of around 130 firefighters and 30 units were deployed to the scene. Additionally, the Illinois National Guard has been called in to assist. A spokesperson for Governor JB Pritzker confirmed that 12 service members, along with five trucks and three trailers equipped with chemical assessment and monitoring tools, have been sent from the 5th Civil Support Team based in Bartonville.

The mission of the National Guard unit is to monitor air quality and conduct environmental assessments to determine when it will be safe for residents to return home, under the direction of the civilian incident commander.

In support of the emergency response, American Red Cross volunteers arrived in Morris to provide food and water to more than 300 emergency personnel on the scene.

This ongoing situation highlights the dangers associated with lithium battery storage and the importance of proper safety protocols in industrial settings.

HE200WG Repair Kit

Turbo Kit For He200Wg,Cummins Truck Repair Kit,He200Wg Turbo Repair,Turbo Kit Of Commins

Fengcheng Fire Turbocharger Manufacturing Co; Ltd. , https://www.fireturbocharger.com

Posted on