Missouri Lithium-Ion Battery Plant Destroyed by Massive Explosion
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A massive explosive has completely destroyed a lithium-ion battery plant in Missouri, according to reports.
Crews are cleaning up after the explosion triggered a large fire at the battery recycling plant in southeast Missouri.
The Fredericktown Fire Department gave an update at 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Officials said fire personnel remain on the scene and part of the collaborative effort between Critical Mineral Recovery, and local, state, and federal officials in response to this fire.
The fire remains contained as expert fire suppression teams continue to work around the clock to work on the remaining hot spots in the building.
The incident prompted a local evacuation of residents of nearby Fredericktown.
Specialized contractors have set up infrastructure to contain water on site and avoid runoff.
The fishkill two miles downstream from the facility is being investigated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Conservation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
Agencies are conducting water samples at numerous areas downstream from the Critical Mineral Recovery facility.
According to the fire department, Critical Mineral Recovery is working to answer questions for the affected community members.
On Friday, crews with the Environmental Protection Agency increased its monitoring efforts.
According to the EPA, the agency is conducting 24-hour monitoring to detect volatile organic compounds, hydrogen fluoride, and more.
They said crews did detect one chemical above the EPA’s action levels in the evacuation zone north of the fire on Wednesday but had not found any other chemicals since.