At 11:40 a.m. on September 22, 2026, smoke rose from the 3200 block of Wheeler Avenue in La Verne. A lithium battery fire at a Metropolitan Water District water treatment plant forced evacuations and shelter-in-place orders for nearby schools.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: What caused the La Verne fire on September 22, 2026?
- A: Smoke was reported at 11:40 a.m. from the 3200 block of Wheeler Avenue in La Verne. A lithium battery fire at a Metropolitan Water District water treatment plant was the source, triggering emergency evacuations.
- Q: Why would a water district operate a lithium battery energy storage site?
- A: The incident raises questions about public water utilities entering energy storage to support grid reliability and renewable integration, a cross-sector policy bet now under scrutiny after the fire.
- Q: Were schools impacted by the La Verne fire?
- A: Yes. Nearby schools were forced into evacuations and shelter-in-place orders due to hazardous smoke from the battery fire at the treatment plant.