Here's what I know about the evacuation in La Verne on Sept. 22. I'll update this story as more information becomes available. You can follow La Verne Daily News on Instagram or Facebook for the latest.

Story updated at 9:05 p.m. Sept. 22

La Verne firefighters will remain at the Metropolitan Water District facility overnight after a second battery storage unit exposed to heat began making popping sounds and releasing puffs of smoke, La Verne Fire Department Battalion Chief and Public Information Officer Mark Savage said Tuesday evening.

The fire in the original battery energy storage unit has been "squelched," Savage said. However, firefighters are continuing to monitor its temperature because lithium batteries can reignite.

The burning unit exploded as firefighters arrived, blowing off some of its doors, Savage said. No firefighters were injured.

One Metropolitan employee was injured after tripping and falling while fleeing the area. The employee was evaluated, treated and taken to a hospital in good condition, Savage said.

A second battery storage unit, located about 10 feet from the first, was exposed to flames or radiant heat during the fire. Around 4 p.m., firefighters temporarily stopped spraying water as they evaluated conditions and heard popping sounds coming from the second unit. They also saw puffs of smoke, Savage said.

Firefighters are using a drone to monitor the unit’s temperature and will continue cooling it if necessary. Because entering or dismantling the unit could expose firefighters to an explosion, crews must wait to see whether it develops a thermal runaway—a chain reaction in which rising temperatures cause battery cells to ignite.

“We just don’t know, and there’s no way to know whether that’s going to react to that heat that it was exposed to,” Savage said.

The remaining evacuation order will not be lifted Tuesday night while crews determine whether the second unit poses a danger, Savage said. The evacuation area was reduced earlier Tuesday to the immediate area surrounding the facility.

The order includes the 186-unit La Verne Mobile Country Club and nearby single-family homes, Savage said. Some residents have returned despite the continuing order.

If the second unit ignites, firefighters plan to use large hose streams and a fog pattern to suppress smoke and particles. Authorities would also send additional evacuation alerts through the Genasys Protect mobile app and use other notification methods, including door-to-door notifications if necessary.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District and Los Angeles County Fire Department hazardous materials personnel remained at the scene Tuesday evening to monitor the air and water runoff. Savage said residents would be notified if additional evacuations or shelter-in-place instructions become necessary.

Savage could not estimate how long the battery units would need to be monitored but said crews would remain at the facility throughout the night.

Lithium Battery Fire Prompts Evacuations in the City of La Verne Tuesday

A lithium battery fire at a Metropolitan Water District facility prompted evacuations and shelter-in-place orders in La Verne on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 22, according to La Verne Fire Chief Brandon Coatney.

The fire occurred in a battery energy storage system near a solar panel field on the northeast side of the facility, which also houses the F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant.

Watch the video from ABC7 ➡️

Metropolitan said the fire did not affect the safety of the region’s water supply.

“We are supporting our first responders as they take the appropriate steps to help ensure the health and safety of residents, employees and others in the affected area,” the agency said in a statement emailed to La Verne Daily News.

Initial evacuation notices covered zones LVN-E009, LVN-E010, LVN-E011 and LVN-E012. Residents near Wheeler and Bonita avenues were ordered to evacuate, while residents east of Wheeler Avenue were instructed to shelter in place and close their doors and windows.

Around 3:04 p.m., the La Verne Police Department announced that all affected streets except Wheeler Avenue were reopening. Drivers were asked to continue avoiding Wheeler Avenue between Foothill Boulevard and Bonita Avenue while emergency crews worked.

As of 3:33 p.m., the Genasys Protect evacuation map showed three active areas: one under an evacuation order, one under an evacuation warning and one under an evacuation advisory. Residents should check the map directly for their address and the latest instructions.

As of 3:56 p.m. Tuesday, the City of La Verne posted on social media that evacuations had been lifted, with the exception of the area between Foothill and Moreno and B Street south to Kendrick. The Commons at La Verne shopping center, 1600 Foothill Blvd. (where Vons is located) and all other businesses on the south side of Foothill from Moreno to Chelsea remain closed.

Bonita Unified School District notified families around 1:22 p.m. that it was monitoring the incident near Grace Miller Elementary School. Tuesday was a compact day at the school, and students were being picked up by their parents or guardians.

The district canceled all after-school enrichment classes at Grace Miller. Students enrolled in School Age Care were taken by bus to Ekstrand Elementary School for pickup.

Bonita High School sheltered in place and did not leave until school was dismissed at 3:30, according to a sophomore who was on campus Tuesday. The student described seeing "thick smoke" and smelling a "metallic smell."

The University of La Verne campus also closed Tuesday afternoon, and classes were canceled until further notice, according to an email sent to students.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said her office was in contact with the City to determine whether residents or emergency crews needed additional support. She urged residents to take the incident seriously, follow instructions from local authorities and stay away from emergency operations.

Residents can follow the La Verne Police Department, La Verne Fire Department and La Verne Local for additional updates.