250 Pound Battery Explosion Causes Citizens Bank Fire

Employees of the Citizens Bank Operations Center pulled an alarm switch after they smelled chemicals, opened the battery room door to hear sizzling and then quickly shut the door before a Wednesday afternoon.

The 250 pound battery then caused a small fire that was quickly extinguished by East Providence firefighters, according to Captain Oscar Elmasian. Workers also ventilated the areas of the Riverside building to make sure cyanide and hydrogen sulfide was safely removed. Employees were able to enter the premises that night. 

According to the captain, the company is waiting for clean up crews to take care of the two-foot-tall battery and the absorbent pads that lie underneath. They are used as back-up energy sources to power computer terminals in the center.