Fire Tears Through Lithium Battery Plant in Missouri

A fire swept through a large battery-recycling plant in Fredericktown, Missouri, on Wednesday, October 30, prompting evacuation orders in the area.

The blaze broke out at a lithium-ion-battery processing plant owned by Critical Mineral Recovery. On its website, the company says the 225,000-square-foot plant is used to “recycle lithium-ion-battery-related materials from battery manufacturers, automotive OEMs, battery dealers, recyclers, and processors worldwide,” and describes it as “one of the largest lithium-ion battery processing facilities in the world.”

The Fredericktown Fire Department said it was responding, and the Bismarck Fire Protection District said they were providing support.

The dense smoke billowing from the blaze prompted Madison County authorities to issue evacuation orders in one area of Fredericktown. Other local residents were advised to shelter indoors.

No casualties had been reported. Credit: Albert Cleve via Storyful

Video transcript

Brand new battery plant just completed a couple of months ago going up in flames.

Fredericktown, Missouri, it's called critical recovery.

Wow.

I mean, it is serious fire.

It's breaking out flames coming out of the outside.

It's gonna be a absolute complete loss.

There is no way to put that out.

Fredericktown Missouri brand new battery plant just completed a couple of months ago going up in flames.

Fredericktown, Missouri, it's called critical recovery.

Wow.

I mean, it is serious fire.

It's breaking out flames coming out of the outside.

It's gonna be a absolute complete loss.

There is no way to put that out.

Fredericktown, Missouri.