A factory containing 900 tons of lithium batteries caught fire in France

French authorities said that around 900 tons of lithium batteries caught fire in a battery recycling factory in southern France and a cloud of thick black smoke was formed over this factory.

The fire broke out on Saturday in a warehouse belonging to the French recycling group SNAM in Vives, north of Toulouse, local councilor Pascal Mazet wrote in a statement at Pleftherm X, according to Reuters.

Lithium batteries are vital in electrical devices from phones to electric cars, but they contain combustible materials that, along with their stored energy, can make them vulnerable to fire when exposed to heat. These batteries are a potential danger because they contain toxic substances that may be released due to fire.

In January 2023, a large fire broke out at a Normandy warehouse storing auto parts and thousands of lithium batteries, which was brought under control without causing any casualties. Firefighters said there were no signs of hazardous air pollution.

Currently, Le Monde newspaper reported that more than 70 firefighters are fighting to control the fire.

Charles Giusti, a local official in the province of Avignon where Vivis is located, told BFM television that there was no danger to people living nearby. While the fire is under control, it is expected to continue for several hours, the governor’s office said in a statement. However, a leaked safety memo revealed that in the event of a major fire, the products there could potentially release cadmium (cadmium is a toxic heavy metal) through the vapors.

Chronic exposure to cadmium is associated with high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis and cardiac dysfunction. Also, exposure to cadmium is associated with the prevalence and inflammation of carotid plaques and an increased risk of ischemic stroke.