Neighbors unite after battery plant fire in Fredericktown | ksdk.com

Nov 03, 2024

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FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. — Crews worked to put out hotspots while officials investigated a large plant fire in Fredericktown into Friday.

Seventy-five employees got out safely, and no one was injured after Critical Mineral Recovery on State Highway OO began to burn Wednesday afternoon.

However, emergency management officials asked some residents near the plant to evacuate their homes due to heavy smoke.

"It's just one of the worst things I've ever been through. It's just scary," said Kathy McDaniel whose backyard faces the plant. "I have a sister. We went and stayed with her. Of course we didn't get any sleep."

A day later, light smoke billowed from the building in Madison County as crews worked to put out hotspots.

Classes were in session at Fredericktown R-1 schools on Thursday, but were canceled on Friday due to suppression efforts. Madison County Sheriff Katy McCutcheon said they are concerned the efforts on Friday could make the air unsafe for the school community.

The 225,000 square foot processing facility in Fredericktown prides itself on being one of the world's largest lithium-ion battery processing facilities.

"I opened the door and the window and I heard a loud explosion and my house shook. And I thought what is going on."

McDaniel ran over to Scoops Frozen Custard and Espresso to take safety.

"I was dishing. It made my knees buckle. I could feel the building. I could feel it through my feet all the way up," said Elizabeth Welch, co-owner and operator.

Madison County Sheriff Katy McCutcheon said that Critical Mineral personnel, fire personnel, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and the EPA were on site working on cleanup and recovery and looking into the cause of the fire.

Residents like McDaniel were unable to return home until the dangerous smoke cleared.

"We are happy to help find them some way to stay and if the stay goes into the night. We have the Salvation Army and Red Cross that will help," McCutcheon noted.

Residents told 5 On Your Side the plant had not been open long and were assured they would not be in danger.

"My husband even worked over there and looked. The foam center. The situation that they had. We really didn't believe anything like this could happen," McDaniel said.

Welch felt in the dark about what the plant does, and other logistical issues.

'We don't know if we should be closed. We don't know how we are affected with our utilities," she said.

On Thursday, roads and restaurants were back open, including the Pig BBQ that fed crews and evacuees for free.

Neighbors who live near the plant said the tough situation brought their tight-knit community closer.

"An irreplaceable community," Welch said.

As of Thursday evening, residents were able to return to their homes.

Al Watkins, attorney for Critical Mineral Recovery, said the facility opened in fall 2023. Production started at the beginning of 2024.

Watkins noted the company hopes to resume operations sometime in the future.