”Hwaseong Battery Factory Fire”... Expert: ”Did thermal runaway and toxic gas cause the damage?” = South Korea

Experts cited "thermal runaway" as one of the causes of the spread of a fire that broke out at a lithium battery manufacturing plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province on the 24th.
Professor Kong Ha-seong of the Fire and Disaster Prevention Department at Woosook University appeared on CBS Radio on the morning of the 25th and said that the fire started from a small dry cell battery.
As for why it spread so quickly, "It's called a thermal runaway phenomenon. When a battery explodes due to high heat, that heat is transferred to a battery that's not malfunctioning right next to it. That's why the same explosion occurs repeatedly.
"The explosion occurs because of a chain reaction," he said. "It is believed that (lithium battery fires) generate hundreds of times more (toxic gases) than wood fires.
The most common substances that are produced are hydrofluoric acid, benzene, acrolein, and toluene, but most of them have a major effect on the respiratory system.
"Benzene also causes anesthetic symptoms. Therefore, even if they had tried to evacuate, they would have been unable to do so because they would have been inhaling toxic gases and their bodies would have been unable to move," he said.
"When lithium leaks into the atmosphere, it generates hydrogen gas continuously when it is mixed with water, which means it continues to produce flammable materials," said Professor Kong.
"This caused the fire to spread," he said, adding, "It's a shame to think about what would have happened if they had evacuated quickly instead of using a fire extinguisher to put out the fire."
He also recommended that the fire department check whether hazardous materials were properly managed when inspecting the plant.
The professor pointed out, "Lithium is thoroughly managed and regulated by the Hazardous Materials Safety Management Act, but the question is whether those regulations were properly followed."
He also stressed the possibility that toxic gases may have leaked during the fire. Professor Kong said, "Typical toxic gases are released to the outside.
"Some substances are dispersed into the atmosphere, but because they are heavier than air, some remain on the ground," he said. "It is important to be careful of these areas, and if you live near a fire, it is important to keep the windows closed."
It is also necessary to purify the interior of the room using ventilation fans and air purifiers."