La Verne fire officials announced Wednesday that the mandatory evacuation order still applies to over 500 homes after a lithium‑battery storage unit at a Metropolitan Water District of Southern California facility caught fire. While the flames have been extinguished, the damaged batteries remain dangerously hot and could still cause an explosive chain reaction.
Evacuation remains in effect
Fire Chief Brandon Coatney warned that “the all‑clear is going to be a long process” and that de‑energizing the batteries will be a key step before residents can safely return. Police officers knocked on the doors of 504 homes in the evacuation zone; about half of those homes did not answer, and roughly 20% of residents said they plan to stay despite the order.
Safety measures and shelter options
The city has set up a shelter at the La Verne Community Center, though it does not provide overnight accommodations. Instead, the municipality is offering hotel vouchers to displaced families, with 30 of the 90 available vouchers already distributed.
Officials emphasized that the water supply remains safe to drink throughout La Verne and the broader service area of the Metropolitan Water District, which includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Technical details of the fire
The blaze originated in a storage unit containing massive rechargeable lithium batteries—some the size of SUVs—used to store energy generated by solar panels at the plant. Firefighters applied roughly 1,500 gallons of water per minute to douse the flames and cool the batteries.
Although the batteries are no longer believed to be at risk of exploding, officials cautioned that smoke could still form a plume that may release potentially hazardous vapors. “What would be the turning point where we can relax those orders is when heat is no longer being produced and there are no hazardous vapors coming off them,” Coatney explained.
Next steps for residents
Once the burned batteries are removed from the facility and surrounding neighborhood, officials will reassess the evacuation orders. Residents outside the immediate zone are advised to stay prepared for possible evacuation if conditions change.
The La Verne Fire Department released new images showing the lined‑up battery units at the time the fire started, underscoring the scale of the incident and the challenges faced by first responders.
Community response
Neighbors have expressed concern for the safety of their families and the potential impact on local air quality. The city continues to provide updates through its official channels and encourages anyone with questions to contact the fire department directly.
As the situation develops, La Verne officials remain focused on protecting public health, ensuring the safety of the water supply, and returning residents to their homes as quickly and safely as possible.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
