Lithium ion battery experts and firefighters removed batteries from the site of a dayslong fire in La Verne, making the area safe for residents to return on Friday morning, Sept. 25.
Evacuation orders were lifted at 6 a.m. on Friday, clearing the way for residents and businesses to come back, the city of La Verne said.
A blaze at the Metropolitan Water District facility at 3201 Wheeler Ave. began Tuesday, burning one storage unit and triggering high temperatures in a neighboring unit, necessitating extended evacuation orders.
Lithium ion battery fires can be difficult to extinguish because of the sustained heat and possibility for reignition that this type of fire creates, experts said. This makes it sometimes lengthy for fire personnel to remove enough heat from the batteries to safely approach and remove them.
Experts on lithium battery fires arrived from out of state Thursday and were able to work with firefighters overnight to safely remove the batteries, officials said.
Air quality remained normal throughout the fire and drinking water was not impacted, according to the city of La Verne. Air quality testing will be ongoing until the battery compartments are removed from the city of La Verne, the city said.
Grace Miller Elementary School remained closed on Friday.
A city council meeting is planned for Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Community Center at 3680 D Street. Residents will be updated on the situation and allowed to ask questions and have discussions at the 6 p.m. meeting, city officials said.