A flare-up at a lithium-ion energy storage facility in Otay Mesa has prompted authorities to re-issue evacuation orders.
The fire first erupted at the Gateway Energy Storage in the 600 block of Camino De La Fuente late Wednesday, according to Cal Fire. It took crews roughly 24 hours to get the blaze under control and evacuation orders were lifted. But by Friday, the fire had re-ignited and evacuation orders were once again put in place for those in the surrounding area.
By Saturday morning, the fire had spread into other parts of the building and burned a portion of the roof but had not affected any other buildings, according to CalFire. The lithium-ion batteries at the warehouse "continue to experience thermal runaway," which is when a battery goes into an uncontrollable self-heating state, according to a report released Saturday morning.
Cal Fire said the evacuation orders were issued as people in the area could be affected due to potential poisonous vapors and potential explosions. A shelter-in-place order was, at one point, issued for nearby Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility.
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Due to the hazardous fumes filling the energy-storage complex, firefighters used streams of water from powerful hoses to subdue the blaze from outside, supplementing an internal sprinkler system at the business, Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette said.
A hazardous materials team was at the scene to ensure air quality and water runoff is not polluted, Cal Fire said.
The cause of the fire was under investigation, Cornette said.
