A lithium battery fire sent toxic gas over Montreal. Are we ready for such emergencies?
CBC
Residents, chemists and firefighters are raising concerns about prevention and emergency preparedness after 15,000 kilograms of lithium batteries inside a shipping container caught fire at the Port of Montreal on Monday.
"Around 6 p.m., I started smelling something chemical in my place," said Lia Chauvel, who lives about two kilometres from the port. "Like at 7 p.m., I get a text from the city. I thought it was spam."
The fire started at 2:40 p.m. About two hours later, the city issued a precautionary lockdown notice through landlines to some nearby residents. A reminder alert was sent at 6:51 p.m.
At 6:53 p.m., the Mercier—Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough posted a warning on Facebook, and the comment section quickly filled with residents saying they were never notified or didn't see the post until much later.
Meanwhile, about 100 people were evacuated from the area near the fire, but there was no mandatory evacuation order, according to city spokesperson Camille Bégin.
"Residents were free to leave or stay and were offered transportation to a safe location while awaiting confirmation that the fire posed no danger," she said.
But it wasn't just the fire that worried experts. Lithium battery fires emit hazardous pollutants like hydrogen fluoride and small particles that can penetrate the lungs, said McGill University epidemiology professor Jill Baumgartner.
Montreal firefighters were seen wearing self-contained breathing apparatuses as they went out into the neighbourhood, urging people to shelter in place or leave the area.
Residents, on the other hand, had nothing covering their eyes, noses and mouths.
Exposure to high levels of hydrogen fluoride can cause chemical burns, eye irritation and respiratory distress, Baumgartner said.
Acute exposure can even lead to a risk of heart attack or stroke, she said. Health risks depend on the length of exposure, pollutant concentrations and individual vulnerability.
"Residents living close to where the fire occurred, firefighters and first responders may want to monitor their health over the next week, though the greatest health risks from exposure to pollutants like hydrogen fluoride are likely soon after exposure occurs," said Baumgartner.
Quebec does have a phone alert system, but Bégin said the city had no confirmation of any imminent danger. The alert system also casts too wide a net, making it a suboptimal solution, she said.
The city has an action plan in place that is designed to ensure effective management of emergencies and disruptions by co-ordinating resources, protecting the population and maintaining essential services during a crisis. That plan was activated, Bégin said.
