SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A stubborn fire at a battery storage site in Otay Mesa is burning for a sixth day. Fire officials are preparing for it to potentially take weeks to put out.
“We’re not sure. We’re preparing for the worst and making plans to be here for a long time, two to four weeks and will reevaluate then,” said Captain Brent Pascua with Cal Fire San Diego.
The fire began last Wednesday at the Gateway Energy Storage facility and flare-ups over the weekend put evacuations warnings for the surrounding area back in place.

“You have to put water on it to keep the fire confined, but that water damages the batteries also allowing them to arc starting another fire. We’re just trying to keep the public safe and keep the fire contained to the building,” he said.
The chain reaction can happen when a lithium-ion battery creates heat faster than it can dissipate. That rapid increase of temperature can then turn to fire.

Cal Fire reports there is now major damage to the building, including the roof.
“Here in the middle of nowhere and it’s still dangerous. The facility being proposed in La Mesa is in a highly concentrated urban area,” said La Mesa Vice Mayor Laura Lothian.
 
​To READ MORE CLICK HERE: Otay Mesa battery facility fire could take weeks to put out entirely

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A fire at a battery storage facility in Otay Mesa reignited overnight, prompting a rapid response from firefighters that continued into Friday.
As of 7:40 p.m., the fire is still contained to the building of origin and there has been no structural damage, Cal Fire San Diego said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Firefighters have deployed additional air quality monitoring equipment around the structure giving us the ability to lift evacuations,” the fire agency said.

To read more click here: Gateway Energy Storage facility: Otay Mesa battery fire prompts evacuation warning