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Crews knock down fire at La Verne water treatment plant that prompted evacuations for neighborhood
ABC7 Los Angeles • • nation
Key Points:
- A lithium battery fire broke out at a Metropolitan Water District facility in La Verne on Tuesday, leading to evacuations of nearby schools and shopping centers as firefighters responded.
- One employee sustained minor injuries and was hospitalized; the fire was largely contained by early afternoon, but crews continued monitoring due to the presence of additional lithium batteries.
- Approximately 185 properties near the facility were affected by evacuation orders or warnings, with several schools including Ramona Middle School, Bonita High School, and the University of La Verne canceling classes or evacuating.
- Firefighters noted the difficulty in stopping lithium battery fires once started and implemented cooling measures to prevent flare-ups, while the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
- The Metropolitan Water District confirmed that its water supply was not impacted, and the incident has raised community concerns about the presence of hazardous battery storage near residential areas.
