A battery storage fire in Warwick, NY was successfully contained due to engineering and safety protocols.

New York's updated fire code for battery storage is one of the most stringent in the country.

The author, an emergency response chief, states the Warwick incident posed no threat to public health.

Battery storage systems are presented as a necessary tool for stabilizing the electric grid amid rising demand.

In December, my team and I responded to a battery storage fire in Warwick. Seven months later, that incident is being cited at town board meetings across the Hudson Valley as new battery storage projects come up for review. I serve as Chief of Orange County Hazmat, and I have been on enough emergency calls over the years to know when something is being handled effectively to protect the public and when something isn’t working.

The Warwick fire was handled successfully. The public deserves to hear from someone who was actually there, understands emergency response and how to properly evaluate risk.

What happened in the Warwick, NY battery storage fire?

Here is what happened: A battery unit went into what is called thermal runaway. One cell inside the container overheated, and the heat spread to neighboring cells. It’s the worst case scenario and extremely rare for these units, which are heavily........

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