Several local fire companies responded to the Millville Food and Energy Center fire Monday morning. Watch Millville’s breaking news coverage: Click on the video above. The Millville Fire Chief said crews were pouring water into the ion battery as they awaited the arrival of a solar panel company at the scene on Sherman Street. “Their team was here preparing food to distribute to those in need, and then the fire started. Fortunately, they were able to call 911 and leave the building, everyone is safe.” Roads near the building were closed due to the fire, and A decontamination center was set up for firefighters working in the building. The Allegheny County Fire Marshal is investigating to determine the cause of the fire. Prashant Kumta, a professor at the Peter Swanson School of Engineering, explained to Pittsburgh Action News 4 the batteries that come with challenging lithium-ion batteries and how they can lead to fires. “As the internal temperature of the battery increases, if it exceeds the ignition point of the electrolyte, you run the risk of the whole thing catching fire,” Kumta said. Too hot, and it does happen. He is currently working on developing safer batteries. “I think the future of lithium-ion batteries is good. We’re going to have safer lithium-ion batteries,” Kumta said. Kumta said the company is working on additional safety measures, such as temperature sensors inside the batteries. This is a developing story. Follow Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 for updates. Download the WTAE mobile app to stay updated with breaking news.More headlines from Pittsburgh Action News 4: UPMC East fire likely started by patient trying to light cigarette Driver found dead in car on I-79 Homemade explosives found at Washington County gas transmission facility Vehicle crashes into gasoline East Pittsburgh The Pump’s Luke Bryan’s ‘Country On Tour’ Comes to Star Lake
Several local fire companies responded to the Millville Food and Energy Center fire Monday morning.
Watch Millvale’s breaking news coverage: Click on the video above.
Crews were filling the ion battery in the basement while they waited on Sherman Street for a solar panel company to arrive on scene, the Millvale fire chief said.
“It’s a mission-based building. We have 412 Food Rescue and a local caterer/cafe called Sprezzatura,” says owner Scott Wolovich. “Their teams were here preparing food to distribute to those in need, and then the fire started. Fortunately, they were able to call 911 and exit the building, everyone is safe.”
Roads near the building were closed for the fire and a decontamination center was set up for firefighters working inside the building.
The Allegheny County Fire Marshal is investigating to determine the cause of the fire.
Prashant Kumta, a professor at the Peter Swanson School of Engineering, explained to Pittsburgh Action News 4 the challenges posed by lithium-ion batteries and how they can lead to fires.
“They can’t even withstand an event like this, but it seems to happen quite often, like every week, you’ll get it happening somewhere… Any kind of temperature rise inside the battery, if it exceeds the battery’s Fire the electrolyte, and you risk the whole thing catching fire,” Kumta said.
While it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what causes a battery to overheat, it does happen, Kumta said. He is currently working on developing safer batteries.
“I think the future of lithium-ion batteries is good. We will use safer lithium-ion batteries,” Kumta said.
Kumta said the company is working on additional safety measures, such as temperature sensors inside the batteries.
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This content was imported from Twitter. You can find the same content in other formats, or you can find more information, on their website.
This is a developing story. Follow Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 for updates. Download the WTAE mobile app to stay updated with breaking news.
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