Tesla big battery fire in Victoria under control after burning more than three days

Three days plus! They hadn’t even started using it. It all sounds so simple on the Tesla megapack website. ‘No assembly is required, all you need to do is connect Megapack’s AC output to your site wiring.’
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A large blaze at Victoria’s “big battery” project has been brought under control by firefighters after burning for more than three days, allowing investigators to begin examining the site, reports The Guardian.

A Tesla battery bank caught fire while it was being set up in Moorabool on Friday morning, and then spread to a second battery.

The fire burned throughout the weekend and into a fourth day, before it was declared under control just after 3pm on Monday.

Fire crews will remain at the site for the next 24 hours “as a precaution in case of re-ignition” and will take temperature readings every two hours, the Country Fire Authority said.

Investigations into how the fire started will soon begin with multiple agencies involved, including Energy Safe Victoria, WorkSafe, police and the CFA.

The 300MW battery project is being produced by French renewable energy giant Neoen and was registered with the energy market operator on 28 July.

Neoen Australia managing director Louis de Sambucy told AAP its own “physical inspections and investigations are now underway”.

CFA incident controller Ian Beswicke said the fire had been particularly challenging due to the complex nature of the battery site.

“This is the first mega pack fire that’s ever happened in the world, is our understanding,” he said. [Talkshop comment: not many in operation?]

“They are difficult to fight because you can’t put water on the mega packs … all that does is extend the length of time that the fire burns for.”

Firefighters have taken advice from experts including Tesla, the battery’s creators, and UGL, who are installing the battery packs.

“The recommended process is you cool everything around it so the fire can’t spread and you let it burn out,” Beswicke said.

Full report here.