Some North County residents say the Escondido Lithium Ion battery fire could be a wake up call

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A lithium-ion battery fire at the San Diego Gas & Electric storage facility in Escondido is raising concerns among residents over a proposed battery storage plant in North County.

The developer behind the project wants to construct a 23-acre facility in a residential neighborhood near the SDG&E storage yard, where the fire erupted on Thursday afternoon.

Super Rides Car Restoration, one of hundreds of nearby businesses evacuated due to toxic fumes from the burning batteries, reopened less than 24 hours after the incident.

“We couldn’t stand the smell,” said Jordan Quintal, owner of Super Rides. Hundreds of others were also asked to shelter in place as smoke drifted through the area.

Fire officials said extinguishing battery fires can be challenging because the chemicals inside the batteries prevent the use of water to fight the flames. “We respect how dangerous these things are,” said Division Chief Tyler Batson. “Now, we’re just trying to hone our tactics so we can deal with the different things that come up.”

The incident has also created more concerns over the proposed Seguro Project, a battery storage plant that energy company AES plans to build at a former horse ranch off Country Club Drive in Eden Valley, just a few miles from the SDG&E site. The 23-acre facility would store dozens of battery containers as a zero-emission energy source.

Residents, including JP Theberge, a member of the Elfin Forest Harmony Grove Town Council, are pushing back against the project because of the potential risks of battery fires like the recent one in Otay Mesa that burned for 11 days.

“If this had happened in Eden Valley in a residential area, we just spoke with the fire chief about it. He said, 'yeah, we would have evacuated those hundreds of homes around it,'” Theberge said.

Resident Kendra Correia added, “This is an incredible visual for us all to have, to know what will happen to residents at ground zero and surrounding the Seguro site.”

Next week, county supervisors will consider imposing a moratorium on the construction of battery storage plants in residential areas. Theberge hopes they will prioritize public safety.

“Let them build them in industrial areas where they are zoned for it, and let’s figure out what needs to be done before we even think about putting these things near people’s homes,” Theberge said.

AES has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the fire and the Seguro Project.