Lithium-ion batteries removed from Warwick storage site following 2 fires
Air quality samples have revealed the presence of dozens of toxins, as reported by News 12.
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Lithium-ion batteries that emitted fumes and worried Warwick residents are being moved out of town.
News 12 reported on two recent incidents – a days-long fire at a storage site on County Route 1 and fumes being emitted from a storage site on Church Street Extension.
The batteries from the Church Street site were packaged and then removed on Monday, to be properly disposed of.
Officials say the batteries burning at the CR-1 location haven't been removed but have cooled down, which will help with the investigation.
Hazmat crews did 20 hours of air metering over three days. They told News 12 that they did not find elevated levels of any chemicals related to the batteries. The school district also tested surfaces in buses and classrooms and found no residue of harmful chemicals.
Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton says lithium-ion battery incidents should give state officials pause.
"I think it behooves all of us, led by the state of New York, to step back and evaluate safety precautions with these things," he said.
Both the operator of the storage sites and the manufacturer of the batteries told News 12 that they have workers on the ground at both sites and are investigating the cause alongside local fire officials.
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