Powerful battery fire in industrial area

A powerful fire has ravaged a warehouse with lithium batteries in Trollhättan, resulting in hazardous smoke. Late on Sunday afternoon, the rescue services had managed to bring the fire under control.

» Updated:

» Published:

Powerful battery fire in industrial area
Photo: Björn Larsson Rosvall/TT

Share this article

The alarm came at 05.25 on Sunday. The fire had broken out at a recycling facility in an industrial area.

The rescue service worked on the fire throughout the day.

Now it looks good for our part. We have no fire on site, but there is some smoke from the lithium batteries, says Tero Paakki, duty officer at the rescue service, to TT late in the afternoon.

The rescue service is now cooling down the batteries and will have personnel on site all night.

Hospital in emergency mode

When the fire broke out, a VMA – important message to the public – was issued, and people in the area were advised to go indoors and close doors, windows, and ventilation.

The warning was later extended to Överby shopping center, which is in the wind direction of the fire. This also applies to Norra Älvsborgs county hospital, which went into emergency mode and closed ventilation as a precautionary measure.

There is a lot of smoke. This is not healthy smoke to breathe in, but if you smell smoke at a distance, it's no danger, said Peter Gustafsson at the rescue service earlier during the day.

At 17.00, the VMA was withdrawn.

There are no reports of anyone being injured.

Second fire this year

In January this year, there was a fire in the same building, operated by the company IQR. Even then, it was lithium-ion batteries that had caught fire, resulting in hazardous smoke, writes TTELA.

The batteries are stored at the facility before being shipped abroad for recycling. According to IQR's CEO Thomas Karlström, the fire may have been caused by the batteries being packaged incorrectly.

This with battery recycling is quite new, and it has been noticed by MSB and other authorities. The way batteries are stored and packaged today is questionable, says Karlström at a press conference.

The police will initiate an investigation into gross negligence and conduct a technical investigation of the site as soon as the rescue service is finished.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Head-on Collision Near Falkenberg Sends Three to Hospital

Head-on Collision Near Falkenberg Sends Three to Hospital

Säpo Budget Increases to Counter Russian Security Threat

Säpo Budget Increases to Counter Russian Security Threat

Police Admit Legal Breach in Case of Missing 14-Year-Old Mohamed

Police Admit Legal Breach in Case of Missing 14-Year-Old Mohamed

Parliament Approves Secret Coercive Measures for Children Under 15

Parliament Approves Secret Coercive Measures for Children Under 15

Cyberattack Hits Defense-Linked Companies in Sweden

Cyberattack Hits Defense-Linked Companies in Sweden

Postnord Sorting Machine Breakdown Delays 70,000 Packages

Postnord Sorting Machine Breakdown Delays 70,000 Packages

Student Injured in Suspected Attempted Murder at Bengtsfors School

Student Injured in Suspected Attempted Murder at Bengtsfors School

Teen Arrested for Attempted Murder in Borås Stabbing

Teen Arrested for Attempted Murder in Borås Stabbing

Second Arrest Made in Kallhäll Double Murder Investigation

Second Arrest Made in Kallhäll Double Murder Investigation

Centre Party Leader Rejects Role as Fifth Tidö Party

Centre Party Leader Rejects Role as Fifth Tidö Party

Main Line Reopens October 6 After Västernorrland Train Derailment

Main Line Reopens October 6 After Västernorrland Train Derailment

Man in 30s Dies in Örnsköldsvik Traffic Accident

Man in 30s Dies in Örnsköldsvik Traffic Accident

Criticism of Sweden's Benefit Cap: Impact on Children's Rights

Criticism of Sweden's Benefit Cap: Impact on Children's Rights

Salmonella Outbreak in Sweden Linked to Local Egg Producer

Salmonella Outbreak in Sweden Linked to Local Egg Producer

Billström Criticizes Kristersson's National Security Council Project

Billström Criticizes Kristersson's National Security Council Project

Government Plans Increased Investment in Charging Stations

Government Plans Increased Investment in Charging Stations

Benefit Cap Reform: Large Families Face Significant Reductions

Benefit Cap Reform: Large Families Face Significant Reductions

Kristersson Responds to Orbán's Criticism: We Are Not Interfering

Kristersson Responds to Orbán's Criticism: We Are Not Interfering

Sweden Proposes Equal Maternity Care for Rural Areas

Sweden Proposes Equal Maternity Care for Rural Areas

Swedish Conscripts Criticize Government's Proposed Pay Increase

Swedish Conscripts Criticize Government's Proposed Pay Increase