By SDCN Editor
Escondido, CA–The City of Escondido lifted all evacuation orders on Saturday after a fire broke out Thursday afternoon at a San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) lithium battery storage facility, city officials confirmed.
The fire was first reported shortly after noon at the facility located at 571 Enterprise Street. First responders included the Escondido Fire and Police Departments, the City of Escondido Public Works, and safety and environmental teams.
The blaze was contained in one of the 24 battery storage containers at the site, with no injuries reported.
Mandatory evacuations were enforced for the area east of Alpine Street, south of Mission Road, west of Enterprise Street, and north of Auto Park Way. Residents and businesses were advised to evacuate and move safely away from the fire.
Since the incident began, the San Diego County Hazardous Materials Division, the County Health Department, and SDG&E have been monitoring the air quality in the affected area. Authorities confirmed that the air remains safe for residents.
“The health and safety of our community have been our top priority throughout the response to this incident. We greatly appreciate the cooperation of local businesses,” the City of Escondido said in a statement.
Officials reported that the fire was fully extinguished by 1 a.m. on Friday, and temperature checks have since confirmed normal levels, with no signs of re-ignition. Water samples collected during the cooling process of nearby containers were deemed safe.
A joint investigation between the Escondido Fire Department and SDG&E is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
