Missouri battery plant fire, explosion in Fredricktown | ksdk.com

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FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. — Residents near a battery recycling facility in Fredericktown, Missouri, were evacuated Wednesday after a fire broke out at the plant Wednesday afternoon.

There were no reported injuries, officials said.

Smoke could be seen rising from Critical Mineral Recovery on Highway OO, a company that recycles lithium-ion batteries and related materials. Madison County's emergency dispatch service said residents north and northwest of Village Creek Road and Madison 217 needed to evacuate immediately. The evacuation order did not affect the city of Fredericktown.

Anyone within the smoke plume, which wind was carrying north of the fire, was urged to shelter in place indoors by closing windows and doors and turning off air conditioning.

Madison County Sheriff Katy McCutcheon said the call first came in at 1:37 p.m. and the fire had been mostly contained as of Wednesday evening. All of Route 72 was shut down from the Highway OO bypass to Lincoln Drive in order to keep the traffic out of the area so firetrucks could shuttle water.

"We were told by plant operations managers that they're not concerned with the smoke. But it's heavy enough that people do need to evacuate," she said.

McCutcheon thanked local agencies, including at least 25 fire departments, that came to the scene to help get the fire under control.

Al Watkins, an attorney for the facility's parent company, Interco, said 75 employees were evacuated safely after the fire started and that there were no injuries.

The fire was contained, Watkins said, and its cause was not yet determined.

“You have fires and proximity of fire lithium ion batteries, you have risks of explosion of those batteries, especially those that are new battery material, and that’s what you have here," Watkins said.

Silvermines General Baptist Church, located at 3874 Highway D, was opening its doors for any evacuees who needed a place to go. The back of the Madison County Health Department at 105 Armory St. was also open to evacuees.

All Fredericktown R-1 school campuses are remaining indoors until further notice, the district said, adding that if any parent chooses to pick up their child from school, it will not count against their attendance.

Fredricktown School District Assistant Superintendent Melanie Allen said the schools did not need to evacuate because the wind was carrying smoke from the fire away from the campus.

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The 225,000 square-foot recycling facility is one of the largest lithium-ion battery processing facilities in the world, according to its website, with the capacity to process more than 60,000 tons of batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries are difficult to extinguish, can generate toxic gasses and carry a risk of exploding or reigniting, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources confirmed a crew was heading to the scene to monitor air quality, any potential water runoff exposure and other environmental concerns. DNR said it would consult with local officials on cleanup.

Scott Bates and his family were at Silvermines General Baptist Church waiting out the evacuation order.

"I was on my way home from Farmington that a local parishioner that I go to church with here called me and informed me that our area was under investigation," he said.

He and his wife gathered their four kids and left their home. Bates said he was hopeful they'd be able to go home Wednesday night.

"We were able to talk with some of our friends who were able to go to other family members' homes in the area. Everybody made it out of the area safely, so we're thankful for that.

This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.