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I Lecturer I Fire Consultant I Director - Institute for Applied Fire Safety Research (IFAB) I President - International Water Mist Association (IWMA) I
FIRE AT MAJOR LITHIUM-ION BATTERY FACILITY IN MISSOURI A major fire erupted yesterday at a lithium-ion battery mineral recovery plant in Fredericktown, MO, prompting evacuations for nearby residents. This incident underscores critical challenges in fire safety for battery processing facilities, even those with claimed advanced detection and suppression systems. According to Missouri Independent: "The fire erupted in spite of what the company’s website calls ‘likely the most sophisticated automated and remote supervised and controlled fire suppression systems in the world.’" The plant’s fire prevention system is reportedly designed to detect fires before they start, utilizing 24/7 remote monitoring and high-intensity industrial infrared cameras. The facility processes EV and consumer-grade lithium-ion batteries, recovering valuable materials like copper, nickel, cobalt, lithium, manganese, and aluminum. Clearly, something has gone wrong. I await the fire investigation report with interest. #fireengineering #recycling #LIBsafety #majorfire #recycling