Battery storage suspected in a basement fire in German city of Worms
Source：pv magazine
On Saturday, a fire broke out in the basement of a house in the Pfeddersheim district of Worms in Germany. Although the exact cause is still unclear, a battery storage unit was located in the basement where the fire started. This unit was used to store solar power from a rooftop photovoltaic system.
A city spokesperson told pv magazine Germany that it’s possible a “battery block ignited, perhaps from an external heat source.”
They added that another electrical appliance stored in the basement could also have caused the fire. “The ultimate cause is still under active police investigation. Therefore, we can’t currently provide information on the manufacturer, as that’s also part of the inquiry.”
The report noted that the firefighting efforts were extremely difficult for the 50-person crew. Responders encountered high temperatures and heavy smoke in the basement. To reach the source of the fire, they reportedly flooded the basement with foam. However, the lithium-ion battery storage unit kept reigniting. This led to the fire department’s initial conclusion, based on their findings, that the battery unit may have caused the fire.
After the fire was put out, the fire department inspected the battery unit. “It appears the affected battery pack burst, likely due to the extreme heat and reignitions, which allowed the water to get inside and cool it down,” the report stated.
Because of the heavy smoke, residents were advised to keep their doors and windows shut. The fire also caused a short circuit in the house, so as a precaution, emergency services temporarily cut power to the entire street.
Fortunately, no one, neither residents nor first responders, was injured. In addition to the fire department, the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief and an ambulance service were also on the scene.
The fire department says the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but the house is uninhabitable due to the widespread toxic substances that reached all the way to the top floor. The residents have been provided with temporary housing.