Batteries Deemed Safe—Now the Cleanup and Investigation Begin
Fire crews continue monitoring the Weymouth site as Metropolitan prepares batteries for disposal, awaits runoff test results and begins investigating the cause of the fire.
Saturday is here, neighbors!
This week reminded me that La Verne Daily News may be a one-person newsroom, but this work is never accomplished alone.
Thank you to everyone who sent DMs, emails and text messages, asked questions, shared updates, and offered words of encouragement during the battery fire. It means so much to know that my coverage—16 original reporting posts on Instagram, four stories and a growing FAQ—helped my neighbors find the information they needed.
I’m also deeply grateful for the people who supported me while the news became all-consuming. Rebekah Hong became my go-to for just about everything, from holding phones and tripods to making calls and sending emails. University of La Verne journalism student Isabella Huerta helped make vital information more accessible by providing updates in Spanish. You can watch one update [here] and read another [here].
And last but certainly not least, thank you to my partner in life, VP of Merch, CTO, and co-parent, Jay. He supports my passion and believes deeply in the importance of this work. Words cannot express how grateful I am to have him by my side.
Thank you all for helping me serve this community. This is why I do what I do—and I could not do it without you.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Staci
With Evacuation Over, Damaged Batteries Still Must be Removed from La Verne Water Plant
The evacuation is over, but the response to the battery fire at the F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant is not.
Over the next several days, crews plan to package and remove the damaged battery materials from the site, continue monitoring the air, take two unaffected battery systems offline and prepare for an investigation into what caused the fire.
John Bednarski, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California assistant general manager of water resources and technical services said Friday that removing the affected batteries from the La Verne plant could take three to five days. Specialized packaging and neutralizing materials must be transported from outside California before the batteries can be shipped to a disposal facility.
“We would just ask for your patience over the next several days as we do our due diligence to clean the site up and get all of this material safely handled and transported away from here,” Bednarski said during a Friday morning news conference at La Verne Fire Station 1.
Fire personnel and lithium-ion battery specialists worked overnight Thursday into Friday to dismantle Battery Bank Two, which had been the primary concern during the later stages of the emergency.
Specialists disconnected the battery modules and reduced their voltage to levels that allowed firefighters to remove them from the enclosure, La Verne Fire Chief Brandon Coatney said. The modules were moved to a designated area and spread apart so crews could monitor them individually and respond if any began generating heat.
Separating the modules also reduced the possibility that heat from one could spread to the others and trigger thermal runaway, a chain reaction in which battery cells continue generating heat.
Crews then isolated a problem area in Battery Bank One, which was involved in the original explosion and fire Tuesday.
Both affected battery banks had been deemed safe by Friday morning, Coatney said. That allowed officials to lift all evacuation orders, warnings and advisories at 6 a.m., clearing residents to return home and businesses to reopen.
Although officials said the remaining materials no longer posed a danger to the surrounding community, fire personnel and hazardous-materials teams will continue monitoring them.
Metropolitan also plans to keep fire personnel watching the site and continue air-quality testing until the batteries are removed. Ernie Hernandez, with Los Angeles County Fire Health Hazmat said monitoring began within the first hour of the incident and consistently found no detectable hazardous substances along the plant’s perimeter.
La Verne police planned to maintain a presence in the area throughout Friday.
Two Unaffected Battery Systems Going Offline
The Weymouth plant has four separate 250-kilowatt lithium-ion battery systems with a combined rated power of 1 megawatt.
The two systems on the north side of the plant were affected by the incident and are no longer operational. The two systems on the south side were not affected, but Metropolitan planned to de-energize them Friday.
“For the foreseeable future, these battery packs will not be operational,” Bednarski said. “They will not be charged.”
The battery storage units went online in June 2026 and remains under warranty. Metropolitan plans to investigate the cause of the fire before deciding whether any of the battery systems should return to service.
Bednarski said the agency would work closely with the City before considering restarting them.
The batteries were installed to store electricity from the plant’s solar panels and reduce its reliance on Southern California Edison’s grid during peak-demand hours, generally from 4 to 9 p.m.
Another large battery storage system operates at Gilead Sciences’ La Verne facility, according to a La Verne Department Battalion Chief Robert Russell. However, he cautioned against directly comparing it with Metropolitan’s system.
The Gilead installation has a different design, enclosure, battery-management system, cell chemistry and cooling system, Russell said.
Like Metropolitan’s system, the Gilead installation is used primarily for “peak shaving”—storing electricity when demand or rates are lower and using it during peak-demand periods to reduce the facility’s reliance on the electrical grid.
Battery storage systems are commonly paired with solar arrays so electricity generated during daylight hours can be stored for use later, the official said.
Runoff Results Expected Soon
Metropolitan expected to receive laboratory results Friday afternoon from testing of runoff produced by the water used to cool the batteries. La Verne Daily News reached out to Metropolitan this morning to ask about the status of those results. This story will be updated when new information becomes available.
Fire officials said no additional firefighting runoff was being generated Friday because crews were no longer applying water. Los Angeles County Fire Health Hazmat monitored the runoff while cooling operations were underway.
The runoff testing is separate from drinking-water monitoring. Metropolitan said treatment operations continued without interruption during the emergency and that the drinking water remained safe.
A skeleton crew of volunteer operators kept the treatment plant running while access to the facility was restricted.
Residents concerned that smoke or other material may have entered their swimming pools or settled on their property should consider hiring a reputable company to conduct testing, Bednarski told La Verne Daily News after the news conference.
He directed residents to Metropolitan’s or the City’s website for information about submitting claims related to the incident. Metropolitan has said it will work with residents and businesses to identify and address their claims.
For any questions about claims, residents can email rmanagement@mwdh2o.com or call (213) 217-7715. The claim form can be downloaded here (PDF).
Investigation to Follow Removal
Metropolitan expects to lead the investigation with help from its technical specialists, contractors involved in designing and building the battery system, and local officials as needed.
The investigation will begin after crews package and remove the damaged materials from the property.
“We really do want to find out what the root cause of this situation was,” Bednarski said, adding that the agency also wants to determine how a similar incident could be prevented.
Investigators will also examine whether the systems’ fire-detection and fire-suppression equipment worked as intended.
City Manager Ken Domer has declared a local emergency to support the City’s continuing response. The City Council will consider ratifying the declaration during a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the La Verne Community Center, 3680 D St. Residents will be able to hear an update, ask questions and participate in the discussion.
Find Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About the Weymouth Battery Fire
Staci Baird
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Sept. 21 City Council Recap Report: Council Seeks More Review and Local Artists in Public Art Fund Framework
La Verne City Council discussed a proposed Public Art Fund ordinance and policy and asked staff to revise it.
The draft set fees on new development at 0.5% of value under $500,000 and 1% at $500,000 or more. Mayor Tim Hepburn pushed for a full review chain of Development Review Committee, Planning Commission, and Council; Mayor Pro Tem Meshal Kashifalghita wanted a timeline and The Historical Society's Sherry Best to review accuracy. The fund holds about $671,000, largely from Gilead Sciences. No vote was taken; staff will return with a revised draft.
Other Topics
- The Council approved the minutes from its Sept. 8 meeting as part of the consent calendar.
- The Council adopted the 2026 update to the City's Conflict of Interest Code, which is reviewed every two years. The update reflects the Community Services Department's reorganization into the Parks & Recreation Department, along with changes to position titles.
- Mayor Tim Hepburn presented a Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation.
- Jasmine Cuevas, a district representative for state Sen. Susan Rubio, announced Operation Gobble, a turkey giveaway event. More information to come.
- First-year students from Western University of Health Sciences introduced themselves to the Council.
- Mayor Pro Tem Meshal Kashifalghita and City Manager Kenneth Domer shared mosquito-control tips after a mosquito carrying West Nile virus was found in a trap near Heritage Park. More information about mosquito control available through the Los Angeles Department of Public Health
- The Council adjourned in memory of Wayne Hurley, John Malarkey and Joel (Dick) Bates.
Coming Up
- Public Art Fund, revised draft and first reading: Staff will bring back a revised Public Art Fund ordinance and policy based on Council direction. The changes add Planning Commission and Council review, input from local artists, a timeline and review by the Historical Society. No date has been set.
- Candidates forum: The first candidates forum is Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the La Verne Community Center.
- Next regular City Council meeting: Monday, Oct. 5. Closed and study sessions start at 5:30 p.m., and the regular meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.
San Dimas Ace Hardware Stays Open as Owner Works to Restock
By Kaitlyn McMullin and Staci Baird
San Dimas Ace Hardware remains open after a city official announced last month it would close Sept. 19, a date the owner says was never finalized.
