Evacuation Orders Lifted for Battery Storage Facility Fire

Evacuation orders were lifted Saturday after the fire at a lithium-ion battery storage facility in Escondido burned for almost two days.

The fire erupted shortly after Noon Thursday at the facility on Enterprise Street near Commercial Street. It led to classes to be canceled at some nearby Escondido schools and about 500 businesses in the area — bound by Auto Park Way, Enterprise Street, West Mission Road and Alpine Way — were evacuated. Some businesses and residents were ordered to shelter in place.

Officials say the fire was limited to one of 24 storage containers, about the size of a trailer. The fire department said that due to the potential problems with battery fires, crews decided it was safest to let the fire burn itself out while protecting the containers around it.

The Carolyn Gilbert Education Center, the Del Dios Academy of Arts and Sciences and Rock Springs Elementary — were kept home Friday “out of an abundance of caution,” according to the Escondido Union School District.

(Photo reporting partner 10 News)