A fire at the world’s largest battery storage facility in Northern California continued to smolder on Friday, following its eruption the previous day, which released toxic smoke and forced the evacuation of up to 1,500 residents. The incident also raised alarms for the emerging battery storage industry. The blaze occurred at the Vistra Energy lithium battery plant in Moss Landing, California. Although it initially produced large flames and substantial smoke, the fire had significantly subsided by Friday, according to Fire Chief Joel Mendoza of the North County Fire Protection District of Monterey County. Based in Texas, Vistra Energy operates the plant. “There’s minimal, if any, smoke coming from the building,” Mendoza stated, adding that crews were allowing the fire to burn itself out due to the challenges of extinguishing lithium-ion battery fires, which burn intensely and release toxic fumes. Hazaribagh leather warehouse fire extinguished, fire safety negligence highlighted While no injuries were reported, local residents expressed concerns about potential hazardous gases in the air. The aftermath of the fire, located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of San Francisco, underscores the challenges facing the battery storage industry. “This is more than just a fire; it’s a wake-up call for the industry,” said Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church. “If we aim to advance sustainable energy, we must ensure safe battery systems.” Battery storage is vital for supplying clean electricity when renewable sources like solar and wind are unavailable. However, most batteries rely on lithium, which is prone to "thermal runaway"—a phenomenon where overheating leads to intense fires and the release of harmful gases. The fire did not spread beyond the facility, Monterey County spokesperson Nicholas Pasculli confirmed. Evacuation orders for 1,200 to 1,500 residents were lifted Friday evening after authorities determined there was no immediate threat to human health. However, residents were advised to keep windows closed and turn off air conditioning. “This is a disaster,” Supervisor Glenn Church told KSBW-TV, highlighting the severity of the situation. As flames linger, talk turns to rebuilding Los Angeles neighborhoods leveled by wildfires Vistra’s senior director of community affairs, Brad Watson, said the Environmental Protection Agency is monitoring air quality, and an independent consultant has been hired to assess pollution in nearby areas. Results will be shared once available. Kelsey Scanlon, Monterey County’s Emergency Management Director, warned about the possible release of hydrogen fluoride gas during the fire. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that exposure to hydrogen fluoride can cause severe irritation and even death in high concentrations. During an emergency meeting of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, residents voiced frustration over the response to the fire. “It seems the fire department lacked the necessary retardants and had to let the fire burn, exposing residents, including those in neighboring areas like Watsonville,” said resident Silvia Morales. Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto stated that air quality monitoring systems had not detected any hazardous gases. Watson acknowledged past incidents at the Moss Landing facility in 2021 and 2022 caused by water exposure to batteries, as well as a separate event at PG&E’s adjacent Elkhorn battery plant in 2022. Lithium batteries play a key role in stabilizing the power grid and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. California, a leader in battery storage, has over 11 gigawatts of utility-scale storage—enough to meet nearly half the state’s main grid demand for four hours daily. While experts affirm that lithium batteries are crucial for reducing carbon emissions, they acknowledge significant fire risks when damaged or overheated. “This incident is unlikely to slow the national trend of expanding grid-scale battery use,” said Timothy Fox, managing director of ClearView Energy Partners. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Vistra stated that the site was evacuated safely, and an investigation will begin once the fire is fully extinguished. “Our priority is the safety of the community and our personnel,” said Jenny Lyon, a Vistra spokesperson. Some experts, like Jodie Lutkenhaus of Texas A&M University, emphasize the need for safer battery technologies. Alternative options, such as water-based and redox flow batteries, are under development but not yet commercially viable. Lithium iron phosphate batteries offer greater stability but still carry some fire risks. “As batteries scale in size, they become inherently dangerous and more prone to catching fire,” said Yiguang Ju, an engineering professor at Princeton University.       

The fire that broke out at a leather warehouse in Dhaka’s Hazaribagh on Friday afternoon has been extinguished, said a fire service official. The blaze started on the fifth floor of the warehouse at approximately 2:14 pm, said Shahjahan Sikder, DAD of Fire Service and Civil Defence (media cell). Child killed, 100 houses gutted in a Rohingya camp fire On information, eleven firefighting units, along with one Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) platoon, rushed to the spot and doused the blaze around 7pm, he added. The origin of the fire and the extent of the damages were not immediately known, said the fire official.

At least 26 rooms of three Eco-resorts at Galachipa on Saint Martin's Island were gutted in a fire which broke out early Tuesday. Tourists remained unhurt in the fire incident. Mujibur Rahman, chairman of Saint Martin's union parisahd, said the fire broke out in a room of Shayari Eco Resort around 2:10 am and spread to the adjacent Beach Valley and Kingshuk Eco Resort. The hospitality room of Shayari Eco Resort, 18 rooms of Beach Valley and seven rooms of Kingshuk Eco Resort were gutted. The blaze was brought under control around 4 am with the help of local residents, tourists and law enforcers, he said. The fire spread fast due to wind, said local people. What ignited the deadly California wildfires? The valuables of tourists were also burnt during the inferno. However, what caused the fire could not be known immediately but it is suspected that the fire might have originated from an electric short circuit. Deputy Commander of Teknaf-2 BGB Major Ishtiak Ahmed said the extent of the damages caused by the fire could not be ascertained yet. 24 killed as firefighters battle Los Angeles blazes ahead of strong winds this week

For Irina Contreras, outdoor education served as a lifeline during the pandemic, offering solace for her and her 7-year-old daughter, Ceiba. However, the recent wildfires ravaging Los Angeles have destroyed much of this refuge. Ceiba, a member of the kids’ adventure group Hawks, attended Matilija, a bilingual forest school where children engaged in outdoor activities like hiking, climbing, and swimming. Among her favorite spots was Eaton Canyon Nature Area, a 190-acre preserve near Altadena, which has now been reduced to ashes. LA wildfire death toll rises as crews fight strong winds to protect homes, landmarks These fires have inflicted a heavy toll on families like Contreras’. Beyond the loss of lives and homes, they mourn the destruction of natural and educational sanctuaries. These spaces, vital for public and private schools, nature-based preschools, and community groups, served as both learning hubs and retreats. Schools have also suffered, including Odyssey Charter School in Altadena, attended by the children of Miguel Ordeñana, a community science manager at the Natural History Museum. Sharing the news with his children has been a challenge, especially as many of their friends and teachers have lost homes. Poor air quality has rendered some unaffected areas unusable. Griffith Park, known for the Hollywood sign, remains inaccessible despite being spared by the fires. Meanwhile, schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District and Pasadena Unified School District have closed, with some campuses sustaining damage. Over 300 schools across several counties were shut down, and it’s unclear when they will reopen. During the pandemic, Contreras found respite in nature as she stepped away from her busy routine. Though she is hopeful outdoor programs will eventually resume, safety concerns linger for areas like Eaton Canyon, where much of the natural habitat has been destroyed. Ukraine claims to have captured 2 North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia Richard Smart, superintendent of the Eaton Canyon Natural Area, described the devastation as “indescribable.” The park, a popular field trip destination, was a cornerstone for local schools. Its loss has left the community grappling with uncertainty about future outdoor education opportunities. Experts like Lila Higgins, a senior manager at the Natural History Museum, emphasize the importance of nature in children’s development, noting its benefits for cognitive and emotional health. While rebuilding efforts are anticipated, it may take years before these areas can again serve as educational and recreational spaces. “This is the reality of modern Southern California,” said Greg Pauly, co-author of Wild L.A.. “Fire dramatically alters both landscapes and lives.”

A fire that broke out in a garage at Tejgaon truck stand in Dhaka on Sunday morning was quickly doused, said Fire Service. Talha Bin Zasim, station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters media cell, said the fire erupted in the garage around 8am, but he did not give any details about the garage. Read: Fire at Mohakhali building doused Being informed, three firefighting units from Tejgaon Fire Station rushed to the spot and doused the flame in half an hour. The reason behind the fire could not be known immediately, the Fire Service official added.

Four members of a family were killed and 15 others injured as a gas cylinder in an ambulance exploded after being hit by two buses in Savar on Dhaka-Aricha highway early Thursday. The deceased were identified as Faruk Hossain Siddique, 45, headmaster of Bhabon Datta Government Primary School in Ghatail upazila of Tangail district, his wife Mahsina Akter Sania, 38, his son Fuad Siddique, 14 and his sister-in-law Mahfuza Akter Shima, 35. Savar Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sougatul Alam said the ambulance caught fire around 2am as a bus of ‘Jhumur Paribahan’ crashed into it in front of Rajfulbaria Police Town and the fire engulfed the bus. Another bus of ‘Shyamoli Paribahn’ also hit the ambulance and the blaze engulfed two buses. Four people who were in the ambulance died on the spot, he said. A number of passengers of Shyamoli Paribahan jumped out of the bus through windows and suffered injuries. Eighty-two goats which were kept in the ‘Jhumur Paribahan’ bus were also burnt down, said deputy officer of Savar Fire Service and Civil Defence Manir Hossain. The injured were rescued and admitted to a hospital for treatment. On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire after one hour. The bodies were sent to the Shaheed Suhrawardy Police Station in Dhaka for autopsy. Vehicular movement on Dhaka-Aricha highway remained suspended for two hours following the accident. A case was filed in this connection. Additional Deputy Inspector General of Highway Police Dr AKM Akhtaruzzaman Basunia said, "It seems that these goats belong to a businessman. He said it is illegal to bring animals in passenger buses. Necessary action will be taken after investigation.”

A fire that broke out at a four-storey building in Dhaka’s Purana Paltan has been brought under control. Six firefighting units brought the fire under control around 10:30 am on Tuesday, said Talha Bin Jashim, an official of the Fire Service Media Cell. Elderly woman burned by fire she lit to keep warm Earlier, the fire originated on the first floor of Manikganj House, a four-storey building housing a law chamber, around 9:24 am.

A fire that broke out at a shopping center in Dallas on Friday morning killed more than 500 animals, most of which were small birds, authorities said. The 579 animals in the pet shop at Plaza Latina in Northwest Dallas died from smoke inhalation, Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesperson Jason Evans said in a statement. The flames from the fire never reached the animals. Chickens, hamsters, two dogs and two cats also died, Evans said. The two-alarm fire took about two hours and as many as 45 firefighters to extinguish around 11am, Evans said. “While DFR personnel did search and attempt rescue, all animals in the shop unfortunately perished due to smoke inhalation,” Evans said. No people were injured in the fire. The structure of the large, one-story shopping center was severely damaged, including a partially collapsed roof, Evans said. The shopping center includes multiple small businesses and was described on its Facebook page as "a place where people can go to eat, and buy all sorts of Latin goods and services.” A post on the page in Spanish asked for prayers for the families who work there. The cause of the fire was not immediately determined and is under investigation, Evans said.

Hundreds of people were rescued or evacuated after a fire broke out at a large commercial building in the South Korean city of Seongnam on Friday, fire officials said. More than 260 firefighters and 80 vehicles were deployed to the scene of the blaze, which was extinguished about an hour and a half after it was first reported at around 4:30 p.m., according to the Gyeonggi provincial fire department. South Korean investigators attempt to detain impeached President Yoon The department said emergency workers have so far rescued 240 people, while another 70 managed to exit the eight-story building unaided. About 28 people sustained light injuries, including smoke inhalation, but there were no reports of serious injuries. The department said emergency workers were still searching the site to ensure no one was trapped inside. The department said the fire started at a restaurant on the first floor. The cause wasn’t immediately known.

The Rural Development and Cooperatives Division under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives has formed a 7-member committee to investigate the fire incident at a building of the Bangladesh Secretariat. The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives issued a notification in this regard on Thursday. The seven-member committee, headed by Additional Secretary (Administration-2) Mohammad Shafiul Arif, has been tasked with identifying the cause of the fire and assessing the damages. The other committee members are  Zahidul Islam, joint secretary (law and administration); ASM Hasan Al Amin, joint secretary (administration); Subrata Kumar Sikder, joint secretary (planning); Dr Ashok Kumar Biswas, deputy secretary (administration); Engineer Md Monayem Chowdhury, system analyst; Rahima Akhter, deputy secretary (administration). Fire and power disruptions hamper secretariat operations The committee has also been authorised to co-opt additional members if necessary and instructed to submit a report to the Secretary of the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division.