A battery recycling facility in Trail caught fire and burned to the ground after numerous explosions but no injuries reported in the Columbia Gardens Industrial Park in Trail on Nov. 7.

Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue (KBRFR) were advised of a fire at the Toxco recycling facility by alarm at around 5 p.m. and arrived on the scene to multiple explosions.

High levels of lithium were burning at the scene and cause a violent explosive reaction when water is added, leaving the KBRFR to let the chemical burn out before extinguishing the fire.

“When you add water to the lithium it reacts with violent explosions, so we had to let the building burn down. It wasn’t until nine or 10 that evening when it was safe to start extinguishing the flames,” said Terry Martin, deputy regional fire chief with the KBRFR.

“It was the most explosions we’ve ever experienced at a scene. The fire spread to the adjacent lot but was contained.”

52 Firefighters and a number of RCMP responded to the scene shutting down highway 22A at Columbia Gardens Rd. working from Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon.

A large quantity of Sulphur Dioxide gas was released during the fire, but was not deemed a significant risk to the public.

The RDKB did activate a Level One Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to monitor the situation in the event of evacuation.

A shelter in place order could have be enforced where residents are required to stay indoors but the air quality was seen as safe.

The fire started in an underground building that stored the lithium batteries, the fire was contained to one Toxco building on-site but spread to the Alpine Recycling lot burning plastics and cardboard stored outside and minor heat damage to the building.

The Toxco facility recycles lithium and other materials from lithium and alkaline batteries. Representatives from Toxco were at the scene throughout the event but could not be reached for comment.