A fire broke out at Millvale Food & Energy Hub on Monday morning, bringing a response from several local fire companies.Watch the breaking news report from Millvale: Click the video above.The Millvale fire chief said crews were putting water on ion batteries in the basement while they awaited the arrival of a solar panel company at the scene on Sherman Street.”It’s a mission-based building. We have both 412 Food Rescue and a local caterer/cafe called Sprezzatura,” owner Scott Wolovich said. “Their teams were here preparing foods to get out to folks in need and the fire started. Fortunately, they were able to call 911 and also get out of the building and everyone was safe.”Roads near the building were closed due to the fire, and a decontamination center was set up for firefighters who were working inside the building.The Allegheny County fire marshal is investigating to determine the cause of the fire.Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering professor, Prashant Kumta, explained to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 the challenges that come with lithium-ion batteries and how they can result in fires.“They can’t afford to have even one incident like this, but it seems like it’s happening quite often, like every week, you get one occurring somewhere…any type of temperature increase inside the battery, if it exceeds the ignition point of the electrolyte, you run this risk of the whole thing catching fire,” Kumta said.Kumta said while it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly causes a battery to get too hot, it does happen. He’s currently doing research to develop batteries that are much safer.“I think the future of the lithium-ion battery is good. We are going to have safer lithium-ion batteries coming in,” Kumta said.Kumta said companies are looking at additional safety measures, like temperature sensors inside of the batteries.This is a developing story. Stay with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 for updates. Download the WTAE mobile app to stay connected with breaking news.More headlines from Pittsburgh’s Action News 4: UPMC East fire possibly sparked by patient trying to light cigaretteDriver found dead inside vehicle on I-79Homemade explosive found at Washington County gas transmission facilityVehicle crashes into gas pump in East PittsburghLuke Bryan “Country On Tour” coming to Star Lake
MILLVALE, Pa. —
A fire broke out at Millvale Food & Energy Hub on Monday morning, bringing a response from several local fire companies.
Watch the breaking news report from Millvale: Click the video above.
The Millvale fire chief said crews were putting water on ion batteries in the basement while they awaited the arrival of a solar panel company at the scene on Sherman Street.
“It’s a mission-based building. We have both 412 Food Rescue and a local caterer/cafe called Sprezzatura,” owner Scott Wolovich said. “Their teams were here preparing foods to get out to folks in need and the fire started. Fortunately, they were able to call 911 and also get out of the building and everyone was safe.”
Roads near the building were closed due to the fire, and a decontamination center was set up for firefighters who were working inside the building.
The Allegheny County fire marshal is investigating to determine the cause of the fire.
Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering professor, Prashant Kumta, explained to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 the challenges that come with lithium-ion batteries and how they can result in fires.
“They can’t afford to have even one incident like this, but it seems like it’s happening quite often, like every week, you get one occurring somewhere…any type of temperature increase inside the battery, if it exceeds the ignition point of the electrolyte, you run this risk of the whole thing catching fire,” Kumta said.
Kumta said while it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly causes a battery to get too hot, it does happen. He’s currently doing research to develop batteries that are much safer.
“I think the future of the lithium-ion battery is good. We are going to have safer lithium-ion batteries coming in,” Kumta said.
Kumta said companies are looking at additional safety measures, like temperature sensors inside of the batteries.
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MORE: Sources on scene of Millvale fire say ion batteries used for solar panels started the fire inside Millvale restaurant. Crews fighting the fire went through decontamination on scene. Source says waiting for solar panel company to arrive #WTAE pic.twitter.com/kh72MKniXE
— Marcie Cipriani (@MCipriani_WTAE) January 30, 2023
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
UPDATE:Millville fire chief tells me crews continue to put water on ion batteries in the basement while they await arrival of the solar panel company. Building owner says several nonprofits work out of the building & some were inside, preparing food at the time of the fire #WTAE pic.twitter.com/AKSyb76y4E
— Marcie Cipriani (@MCipriani_WTAE) January 30, 2023
This is a developing story. Stay with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 for updates. Download the WTAE mobile app to stay connected with breaking news.
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