La Verne evacuation orders lifted after hazardous battery storage fire neutralized
Officials: Evacuations lifted in La Verne, but threat remains
Officials confirmed air quality remains safe and drinking water was unaffected, though complete removal of the battery debris will take several days.
LA VERNE, Calif. - All evacuation orders and warnings were lifted in La Verne on Friday after emergency personnel and battery specialists worked through the night to safely dismantle, lower voltages, and separate fire-damaged lithium-ion battery components at the Metropolitan Water District facility.
What we know:
The hazardous incident began on Tuesday, Sept. 22 around 11:40 a.m. when a fire broke out in an eight-foot-by-twenty-foot battery storage unit near a solar panel field on the northeast side of the compound.
Officials said the heat from that initial blaze caused thermal damage to an adjacent, identical battery bank, prompting firefighters to continuously spray water onto the structures for days to maintain safe temperatures and prevent reignition.
Over the course of a complex overnight operation, lithium-ion battery subject-matter experts working alongside a dozen La Verne firefighters dismantled Battery Unit #2, authorities said.
La Verne battery fire: Evacuations lifted
Evacuation orders were lifted Friday days after a fire sparked inside a battery storage unit at a Metropolitan Water District facility in La Verne. The lithium-ion batteries that heated up have been removed from the facility.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- La Verne battery fire update: Evacuations remain, schools closed
- La Verne lithium battery storage fire forces evacuations near water district facility
Crews disconnected individual battery packs, lowered voltages to acceptable levels, and spread the cells over a wide lay-down area to break continuous contact and eliminate the threat of thermal runaway.
Responders also isolated a problem area within Battery Unit #1, successfully deeming both battery banks safe, officials said.
Officials give update on battery fire in La Verne
Officials on Friday lifted all evacuation orders and warnings, allowing hundreds of displaced residents to return home and local businesses to reopen.
They also confirmed that local air quality remains safe following continuous monitoring across the site, and that the regional drinking water supply was never affected or compromised during the incident.
To prevent future incidents while the investigation proceeds, the MWD is taking the remaining two undamaged battery units on the south end of the site completely offline and de-energizing them.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not yet released the exact cause of the initial fire that broke out in the solar field battery unit on Tuesday morning.
Officials have not specified the total cost of the physical damage to the MWD infrastructure.
What they're saying:
La Verne Fire Department Chief Brandon Coatney noted during the response that while the primary unit was mostly consumed by the initial fire, crews worked methodically to ensure any residual stored energy was safely mitigated.
La Verne Police Chief Sam Gonzalez expressed appreciation for the community's cooperation and noted that a police presence will remain in the area throughout the day to ensure public safety.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Temperatures start to stabilize at La Verne lithium battery unit
Three days after a fire broke out inside a lithium battery storage unit at a La Verne water facility, temperatures inside the units are finally stabilizing—raising hopes that nearby evacuations could soon be lifted.
MWD Assistant General Manager John Bednarski commended the collaborative response and addressed impacted community members directly, emphasizing that MWD will stand with residents and business owners to get claims identified and resolved.
La Verne Mayor Tip Hepburn praised the local boots on the ground, first responders, regional municipal partners, and elected officials who maintained direct communication to support the city throughout the emergency.
What's next:
Although the immediate hazard is neutralized, the incident remains ongoing as safety regulations mandate a required cooldown period before the materials can be legally transported.
Specialized packaging and neutralization supplies are currently being shipped from the East Coast, after which workers will package the materials into shipping drums for transport to a designated hazardous waste facility.
Continuous fire overwatch and air monitoring will remain active until all battery debris is hauled off the property.
Once the site is cleared, MWD will lead a formal joint investigation alongside local authorities, technical experts, and equipment contractors to determine the root cause of the fire.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Fire breaks out at water treatment plant in La Verne
Firefighters are working quickly to contain a fire that broke out Tuesday afternoon a Metropolitan Water District facility in La Verne. The nearby Grace Elementary School is under a shelter-in-place order, while shopping centers along Wheeler Avenue north of Foothill are being evacuated, according to the La Verne Police Department.
MWD confirmed it will consult closely with the City of La Verne before considering whether the energy storage systems will ever be reactivated.
Additionally, the City Manager is issuing a formal declaration of a local emergency to secure ongoing municipal support for impacted residents and businesses, which will go before the La Verne City Council for ratification during a special meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
What you can do:
Returning residents and business owners can track official city updates on the social media channels of the La Verne Fire Department and La Verne Police Department, or by visiting laverneca.gov.
Affected property owners, residents, and business owners seeking compensation for financial losses or disruption can initiate formal claims online.
Individuals can also contact Fire Litigation at 866-312-5353 to discuss their situation.
Community members interested in providing feedback regarding the municipal response are invited to attend the upcoming City Council special meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m.
The Source: This report is based on official updates, emergency response briefings, and public press statements provided by the La Verne Fire Department, the La Verne Police Department, Los Angeles County Health Hazmat, and executives from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. City News Service contributed.