Arabic version: بدء عمليات التنظيف بعد حريق كبير في بطارية ليثيوم أيون في مادنغتون

Hazardous material from WA’s biggest lithium-ion battery fire is set to be removed by tomorrow, according to ABC News. The blaze broke out at a lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Maddington on April 12, prompting a HAZMAT warning for the surrounding area, but officials have assured parents that local schools are safe for students to return.

WA Premier Roger Cook confirmed that schools in Perth’s south-east would reopen following thorough cleaning efforts. “I know that the schools have all undergone a thorough cleaning so we don’t anticipate any danger to the students when they go back to school,” he stated. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) is working to clear the hazardous waste, but a HAZMAT warning remains in effect, advising residents to avoid the area.

Health officials have conducted preliminary testing and reported no levels of toxic chemicals exceeding public health standards. Tanya Gillett, the acting executive director of environmental health, encouraged residents experiencing symptoms to seek medical advice. Further testing is underway, with samples taken from surrounding areas being analyzed by the state’s chemical analysis service, ChemCentre.

The fire was unprecedented, involving 100 tonnes of three types of battery — lithium ion, lithium metal, and lead acid — complicating firefighting efforts. DFES incident controller Leigh Bishop noted that the combination of materials made it challenging to develop effective suppression strategies. Rainfall had also caused a flare-up, leading to thermal imaging showing parts of the site reaching 400 degrees.

With a significant increase in lithium-ion battery fires in recent years, DFES officials emphasized the challenges of extinguishing such blazes using conventional methods. They reported responding to 63 lithium battery fires this year alone, averaging four incidents per week.