Thursday, June 14, 2012

A-group Encounters Battery Facility Fire

Firefighters squeeging neutralized water out
 Squrt 31 and Ladder 44 were originally dispatched for an alarm system. Upon squrt 31's arrival they found smoke showing from the building and sprinkler system activated. 31's officer had the boxed filled bringing the additional resources.


Upon entry 31's officer reported there was a small fire in a battery bank charging system with an active sprinkler flowing.


Melted battery tray
 E22 was ordered to standby to lay out to the hydrant. E22's officer gained access to the knox box and attempted to gain entry into the sprinkler room to secure the sprinkler system. 31's crew extinguished the fire with a dry chemical extinguisher, Ladder 44 opened up the business to ventilate the unit and laddered the roof with the main. Haz Mat 13 arrived and briefed IC on situation since this was the second fire in 18 months there. All companies were advised to use caution as active battery charging was going on and open cell batteries were in the area of the fire.





Extinguished with powdered extinguisher
A building maintenance representative arrived and opened the rest of the units and sprinkler room. The sprinkler was secured. IC contacted 2 contacts for Hoppecke Battery A representative from the company called back and was requested to respond. Haz Mat 13 tested the water run off and it was very acidic. They neutralized the water in the unit on fire and the water run off in unit 120. The water was removed from the battery company after it was neutralized and checked. A courtesy call was made to DEP and advised. Power was secured to the charging system.