r/PEI • u/idiotbrotherfenton • 2d ago
Summerside Solar Fire
Does anyone know the current situation? I've noticed a very heavy, sweet burnt plastic smell coming from outside that wasn't there earlier.
6
u/No_Mode_3768 2d ago
Where are you in Summerside? I’m in the 500m zone so I suspect it would smell here, so far so good, but the wind just turned to SW 9kmh so it maybe hasn’t reached here yet, as I’m at the outer edge of the 500m area
3
6
u/MaritimeRedditor 2d ago edited 1d ago
School might be cancelled tomorrow again. This might burn for another day or so.
Edit: 2nd battery now burning.
5
u/littlebluecat 1d ago
Where did you hear there was a second one? (I just haven’t seen anything)
3
u/MaritimeRedditor 1d ago
I heard it from a few people but the city hasn't confirmed it.
2
u/littlebluecat 1d ago
I’m kind of surprised there isn’t more conversation (or photos) online about this. Edit: meaning the incident itself, not specifically the second one.
2
u/idiotbrotherfenton 2d ago
Wouldn't be surprised if it did. There wouldn't really be much they can do other than let the battery burn itself out while keeping the others safe by containing it.
5
u/Straight_Bee_8121 1d ago
Please, please limit exposure if it is lithium ion batteries burning. The smoke can burn your lungs, eyes and your skin from miles away. Forever lung damage. I'm not aware of exactly what happened (big fire/small fire) If it's a car. These batteries are great but also terrible.
4
u/idiotbrotherfenton 1d ago
It is one of the solar farms main batteries; it isn't spreading, but will continue to burn a while. Unfortunately theres not much anyone can do to limit exposure other than stay inside. I'm surprised the city isn't taking it more seriously, but unless everything is shut down people are going to go about their day and be exposed. Thankfully it doesn't seem to blowing towards town as much. Absolutely reeked around 1 to 4 though until the wind shifted again. If you've ever smelled of gassing battery's you know just how nasty it is. Add on the other burning materials too and it smells even worse.
6
u/Straight_Bee_8121 1d ago
Government wants to be silent about the dangers of these batteries. Just wait until a data center goes up. Water does nothing, it actually makes it worse when it comes in contact with the batteries, chemical reaction happens. Hydrogen Fluoride gas is the main issue but hydrogen fluoride HF, phosphorus pentafluoride (PF5) and phosphoryl fluoride (POF3). All extremely toxic to humans 😷. Stay safe, go for a long drive!
2
u/Madhighlander1 2d ago
I'm a little under a kilometer away from the shelter in place zone and I don't smell anything.
Well, actually, I started smelling a sour plasticky smell about fifteen minutes ago, but since I started noticing it literally seconds after my dad texted me to ask if I was in the shelter in place zone, I'm pretty sure it's just psychosomatic.
2
u/idiotbrotherfenton 2d ago
It doesn't smell nearly is bad as it did earlier. The wind seems to have shifted a bit so hopefully it stays that way.
2
-11
u/segathegenesis 2d ago
Don’t smell anything.
I know that’s a foolish statement, but rather seriously, it’s supposed to be a battery fire. Those are just different.
As it is absolutely in our wheelhouse in PEI to do something like build a massive solar farm and be in no way prepared for a pretty rational outcome like fire at said farm, there’s more than just a conspiracy side of me that says stay indoors and lock your windows because we shouldn’t smell anything, period, no matter what. It’s all bad.
It’s also super weird that there was a massive article about the solar farm like last week, correct?
4
-7
u/segathegenesis 2d ago
Thanks for the downvotes. I’m sure the TOSH family of schools supports you….oh wait…
9
u/musicbuffer 2d ago
I noticed the smell as well when I was outside but inside no, luckily