Lithium Batteries Were the Culprits in the Fire at Neurologica in Danvers, Major Damages

Lithium batteries powering a medical imaging machine caught fire on Wednesday morning displacing 120 workers and potentially causing millions in equipment damages at Neurologica, 14 Electronics Ave., according to Danvers Fire Chief Kevin Farrell.

Four lithium batteries, including two large lithium batteries, caught fire on the second floor of the building, Neurologica workers used a fire extinguisher, but the lithium batteries proved to be challenging.

“There’s quite a bit of power in those lithium batteries,” Chief Farrell said.

.The lithium batteries were placed in a cart and wheeled outside of the building. The batteries ignited again once outside, and fire crews used alcohol resistant foam. The batteries were a bit smaller than a car battery. Fire officials were not satisfied that the batteries would not ignite again, so Chief Farrell called the town’s Department of Public Works.

A front-end loader was deployed to bury the lithium batteries under a pile of sand.

No injuries were reported, but the fire chief said it too soon to put a dollar estimate on the fire and smoke damages, especially because the building contained high-tech, expensive and sensitive medical equipment.

“It would not surprise me if it were in the upper thousands - if not - millions of dollars,” Chief Farrell said.

Public health and environmental officials were also consulted with on the atmospheric conditions in the building.

Chief Farrell made the decision to require Neurologica to contract an industrial hygienist to ensure the building was properly clean and safe for employees. Employees will not be permitted to return to the building until the cleaning company submits a certificate to the town.

The commercial business is located in an industrial park on the southbound side of Route 1.

Meanwhile, Chief Farrell gave big kudos to the mutual aid companies on Wednesday.

“Our neighbors did great,” Chief Farrell said. ”Middleton, Salem and Beverly covered our station, and Peabody was at the scene.”

Mutual aid fire crews responded to a smoky HVAC on the roof of Walmart, and several medical calls while Danvers crews were tied up at the fire scene.

Neurologica, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, develops, manufactures and markets medical imaging equipment for healthcare facilities and private practices worldwide.

Photo courtesy of the Danvers Fire Department: Mutual aid communities ready to roll during the fire at Neurologica on Wednesday.