Fire brigade on a large scale: fire in the Großwelzheim battery center!

Fire brigade on a large scale: fire in the Großwelzheim battery center!

In Großwelzheim, a district of Karlstein, there was a large fire brigade operation today, which was caused by a fire in the BMZ battery assembly center at the Gustav colliery. At 11:30 a.m. the fire alarm system triggered an alarm, whereupon the Karlstein fire department was alerted. Several pallets with lithium-ion batteries had burst into flames and the fire brigade found the hall heavily smoked. The alert level was increased and additional fire departments were called in with special extinguishing equipment in order to get the situation under control aschaffenburg.news reported.

The emergency services used respiratory protection and were able to extinguish the burning pallets in the hall and bring them outside. In order to store the battery storage devices safely, they were secured in a special container in a water bath. Extracting smoke from the industrial hall, which was carried out with several fans, including large-area fans, was an enormous challenge. Despite the seriousness of the operation, fortunately no injuries were reported and several ambulances were on standby as a preventive measure. The police have now started an investigation into the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage. A technical cause is currently assumed.

The danger of lithium-ion batteries

But what makes these batteries so dangerous? How vlitex.com As explained, lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electric cars, e-bikes, smartphones and many other devices. A fire can trigger a type of chain reaction known as thermal runaway, which can reach temperatures of up to 1,300°C. This poses a serious challenge for firefighters as traditional extinguishing methods are often ineffective. Another aspect is that these fires can occur without external oxygen and batteries can be re-ignited when attempts are made to extinguish them.

There is also a risk of cells exploding and burning parts being thrown several meters away. This means a challenging situation for the fire department as they have to deal with increased water requirements. Sometimes up to 12,000 liters of extinguishing water are required, and the resulting smoke gases are toxic, such as hydrogen fluoride, which is released from lithium-ion batteries during fires.

Firefighting measures

In order to deal with these challenges, special solution approaches are necessary. Firefighters are regularly trained in the use of lithium-ion batteries to minimize potential hazards. Innovative aids such as fire containment blankets and extinguishing lances can help make the situation safer. The disposal of the contaminated extinguishing water must also be considered, as the chemical residues make this hazardous waste.

Prevention measures are essential for users of lithium-ion batteries. It is recommended to protect batteries from extreme temperatures and possible damage, inspect visible defects immediately, and use certified chargers to minimize the risk of fire.

In summary, the incident in Großwelzheim clearly shows how important it is to be well informed and prepared both when dealing with lithium-ion batteries and when fighting fires. The fire brigade's efforts have once again proven that they have a good hand in ensuring the safety of the population, even in difficult conditions.