By Luke Voogt
A 13-tonne lithium battery has caught fire in Moorabool with crews working to stop the blaze from spreading to nearby batteries.
The crews, wearing breathing apparatuses, will remain at the site for several hours, a Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) spokesperson said.
An FRV scientific officer is at the site conducting atmospheric monitoring and the authority has also deployed a drone to observe the blaze.
“There is currently no threat to the community though residents and motorists will notice smoke in the area,” the FRV spokesperson said.
The battery, enclosed in a shipping container, caught fire about 11am this morning.
Vic Emergency has issued an air quality warning due to toxic smoke for Batesford, Bell Post Hill, Lovely Banks and Moorabool due to the fire.
The battery is part of a complex set to become Australia’s largest lithium-ion battery.
The Big Battery is a joint collaboration between French renewable energy corporation Neoen, tech giant Tesla and state and federal governments.
The companies initially expected the complex to be complete by November but the fire could delay construction.
CFA, police and paramedics are also onsite to support FRV.
