A warehouse containing 900 tonnes of lithium batteries awaiting recycling went up in flames this afternoon amid growing fears about their dangers.
The fire in France took place at a warehouse in the Aveyron town of Viviez, and residents were told by authorities to stay indoors.
Locals were ordered to keep their doors and windows closed as thick smoke engulfed the city. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
Although the cause of the fire has yet to be confirmed, it took 70 firefighters to bring the flames under control.
Lithium batteries, found in e-scooters, are the fastest growing fire risk in London, with the London Fire Brigade being called to an e-bike or scooter fire on average once every two days last year.
The fire in France has once again raised questions about the use and safety of batteries.
A warehouse containing 900 tonnes of lithium batteries awaiting recycling went up in flames this afternoon, amid growing fears over their dangers
The fire in France took place in a warehouse in the town of Viviez in Aveyron, and residents were told by authorities to stay indoors
Locals were ordered to keep their doors and windows closed as thick smoke engulfed the city. No injuries or deaths have been reported
Jean-Louis Denoit, the mayor of Viviez, called the fire “shocking” and told French news channel BFMTV: “There is indeed reason to ask questions about the function of electric vehicles and lithium batteries.”
The fire comes after proposals in Britain to build one of Europe’s largest battery storage sites in Buckinghamshire have been met with fierce criticism.
More than 200 residents have objected to Statera Energy’s plans to build the 500 megawatt facility on fields at Rookery Farm.
The developers plan to ‘strip the topsoil’ and build 888 large shipping containers to house the batteries, which will be surrounded by an 8-foot-tall steel mesh fence.
The energy company also wants to build 37 inverter houses, three storage containers, seven control rooms, four fire water storage tanks, a large substation for customers and a welfare unit.
It is expected to take 18 months to build the battery factory, with residents also expressing concerns about the possibility of 30 trucks passing through every day.
Buckingham Tory MP Greg Smith told MailOnline he was ‘fed up with farmland being taken from Buckinghamshire for development’.
The fire comes amid proposals in Britain to build one of Europe’s largest battery storage sites in Buckinghamshire, drawing fierce criticism.
Campaigners said they visited this site in Yorkshire to see what it would be like
More than 200 residents have objected to Statera Energy’s plans to build the 500 megawatt facility on fields at Rookery Farm. Residents are pictured with MP Greg Smith
These massive battery storage factories could become a common sight in Britain, with hundreds of applications submitted to councils across the country, the BBC reports.
But furious campaigners say the controversial plant would damage the environment and ‘undoubtedly affect the mental health of the community’.
It also comes after the construction of HS2 and their battle against a separate 2,100-acre solar farm in Buckinghamshire.
The Rosefield Solar Farm will power an estimated 57,000 homes and save 125,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, but campaigners say it will destroy even more farmland and spoil rural views.
It follows confirmation that a fire at the Royal Courts of Justice was caused by an e-bike battery defect earlier this month.
The fire destroyed part of a ground floor storage area and caused chaos outside as traffic was disrupted in the Strand, London.
The LFB said at the time: ‘Although e-bikes and e-scooters are a great way to get around town, they can cause incredibly intense fires if the batteries become damaged or start to fail.
‘Lithium battery fires can spread quickly and uncontrollably, causing a major fire within minutes.
It follows confirmation that a fire at the Royal Courts of Justice was caused by an e-bike battery defect earlier this month. Members of the legal profession are seen outside the Old Bailey during the incident
Firefighters had to check ‘several buildings’ on Warwick Lane
Freighters carrying specialist equipment (pictured) from three fire engines rushed to tackle the blaze
The Genius Star
‘When these batteries are charged in communal areas or escape routes, a fire outbreak can quickly hinder people’s ability to escape.’
Last December, a cargo ship carrying lithium-ion batteries burned as it reached Alaska.
According to the US Coast Guard, the 19-strong crew managed to reach the coast without any injuries.
The Genius Star
The fire started on Christmas Day in cargo hold No. 1, a spokesman for ship owner Wisdom Marine Group said at the time.
The crew worked quickly to release carbon dioxide into the hold and sealed it off to prevent a possible explosion.