Crime & Safety
Lithium Batteries Explode At San Diego County Apartment Complex
The first floor of this La Jolla apartment building was filled with smoke during the incident.
LA JOLLA, CA — The first floor of multiple apartment units in La Jolla was filled with smoke early Thursday, when numerous lithium-ion batteries exploded in a utility closet.
Crews responded around 6:30 a.m. Thursday to reports of an explosion in the 7500 block of La Jolla Boulevard, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke coming from an unspecified number of first-floor units. Upon their initial search, they discovered the smoking batteries.
Find out what's happening in Encinitasfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Damage was minimal due to the department's quick response time, officials said.
No injuries were immediately reported, but a San Diego County Hazardous Materials team was assigned to assist in the effort.
Find out what's happening in Encinitasfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
As of 10 a.m., HazMat, a medic and five engines were at the scene, with a total of 40 personnel.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
