[UPDATE 5:13 p.m.: Photo] Explosion Rocks Rio Dell
Stock photo by Oliver Cory
First reports indicate a shipping container with solar batteries located in the River’s Edge RV Park in Rio Dell exploded about 11:21 a.m.
According to Emily Scoles who is a Rio Dell resident, “It shook the ground and windows all over town and [S]cotia…It wasnt deep like a mortar…it sounded tinny like metal.”
Please remember that information gathered from initial reports is subject to revision as more facts become available.
UPDATE 11:42 a.m.: Emily Scoles tells us that the fire has been extinguished and there is “no report of injuries.” However, she said, “[T]he air smells funny… hope its not toxic.”
UPDATE 2:34 p.m.: Lt. Thomas Norris of Rio Dell Fire Protection District said that the batteries that exploded were in a small Conex-like building. “The explosion completely tore the roof off, threw it up in the trees, knocked a bunch of widowmakers down and then landed on someone’s popout,” he explained. “If that would have hit anybody, it would have hurt or killed them. [The explosion] totally destroyed the adjacent laundromat.”
He told us, “The debris field looked like a bomb went off. [After the explosion,] the Conex looked like a bowl. It is a miracle it didn’t kill anybody.”
UPDATE 5:13 p.m.: Photo provided by Tom Howe.
The top of the building was blown off. [Photo by Tom Howe]
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Just a welcome to the new chief?
Hope nobody was hurt, but if it was that big of an explosion…
Meth lab for sure….I actually have knowledge about this….I know many things about the news….most people don’t…
Well, that’s kind of a leap from solar-batteries, but maybe…
How can they make Mexican quality meth in US without precursors?
Ephedra sinica is the new cash crop
Think the good crystal stuff needs chemical phenyl-2-propanone precursor, not OTC pills, but I’m not a chemist
You can extract ephedra from the herb Ma-juang or order precursors. Theres lithium anahydrous and good ole gun blue method. I havent heard of a lab in a long time its so cheap coming across the the bordrr. 2004 6400$ a lb for connected people now 1200$ a lb. They can rot their teeth out on the cheap Meth mouth 4 all.
Untrue….I live there and no meth lab or drugs in the park…make sure you know the facts before you post stuff.
Sorry to hear about your meth lab Dennis. It truly is a sad day..
Apparently you don’t know HOW TO READ
Remember the folks responding to this include volunteer firefighters who not only stop the flames from spreading as another fire season arrives, but, they are also at the scene of our community’s tragedies.
They do this for free and they fundraise in their spare time so they have the proper equipment from helmets to the insurance they couldn’t operate without.
In fact, this weekend Rio Dell Fire Protection District will be raising money at Wildwood Days this weekend. Support them and have fun when you go. Or, if you would like to donate to Rio Dell Fire Protection District or your own VFD in your neighborhood, here is a list of their addresses so you can send a check:
ALDERPOINT FIRE
POB 164
ALDERPOINT, CA 95511
BELL SPRINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT
PO Box 866
Laytonville, CA 95454
BLUE LAKE FIRE
PO Box 245
Blue Lake, CA 95525
BRICELAND FIRE
POB 1249
REDWAY, 95560.
BRIDGEVILLE FIRE
P.O. Box 4
Bridgeville, CA 95526
CARLOTTA FIRE
PO Box 33
Carlotta, CA 95528
COFFEE CREEK FIRE
HC 2 Box 3951
Trinity Center, CA, 96091
DOWN RIVER VFD
140 Fire House Rd
Big Bar, CA 96010
FERNDALE FIRE
PO Box 485
Ferndale Ca. 95536
FIELDBROOK FIRE
4584 Fieldbrook Rd.
Fieldbrook, CA. 95519
FORTUNA FIRE
320 S. Fortuna Blvd.
Fortuna, CA 95540
FRUITLAND RIDGE FIRE
POB 87
Myers Flat 95554
Douglas City Volunteer Fire Department
PO Box 10
Douglas City, CA 96024
Phone: (530) 623-5110
GARBERVILLE FIRE
PO Box 288
Garberville, CA 95542
GASQUET FIRE Department
PO Box 85
Gasquet, CA 95543
HAWKINS BAR VFD
PO Box 485
Salyer, CA 95563
HAYFORK VFD
195 Hyampom Rd
Hayfork, CA 96041
HONEYDEW FIRE
P.O. Box 74
Honeydew, CA, 95545-0074
HOOPA FIRE and Office of Emergency Services
P.O. Box 369
11121 HWY 96
Hoopa, CA, 95546
HYAMPOM FIRE
22509 Hyampom Rd.
Hyampom, CA 96046
HYDESVILLE FIRE
3494 CA 36
Hydesville, CA 95547
JUNCTION CITY FIRE
PO Box 418
Junction City, CA 96048
KETTENPOM ZENIA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT
Po Box 100
Zenia, CA 95595
KNEELAND FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
6201 Greenwood Heights Drive.
Kneeland, CA. 95549
Online donations
LAYTONVILLE FIRE
44950 Willis Ave
Laytonville Ca 95454
LEGGETT FIRE
P.O. Box 191
Leggett ca 95585
Lewiston Fire Department
PO Box 113
Lewiston, CA 96052
Phone: (530) 778-3711
LOLETA FIRE
567 Park St.
Loleta, Ca. 95551
(707) 733-5407
MAPLE CREEK FIRE
15933 Maple Creek Rd.
Korbel, CA 95550
MIRANDA FIRE
POB 160
Miranda, Ca 95553
MYERS FLAT FIRE
PO Box 131
Myers Flat, CA 95554
ORLEANS FIRE
38162 Highway 96
(PO Box 312)
Orleans, CA 95556
Or you can donate via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/orleansvolunteers
ORICK FIRE
PO Box 96
Orick, CA 95555
PALO VERDE FIRE
P O Box 1381,
Redway, Ca 95560
PETROLIA FIRE
(Donate online)
98 Sherman Street.
P.O. Box 169
Petrolia, CA
95558-0169
PHILLIPSVILLE FIRE
PO Box 39
Phillipsville, CA 95559
PIERCY FIRE
80401 Highway 271/ PO Box 206
Piercy, CA, 95587
POST MOUNTAIN FIRE
PO Box 1026
Hayfork, CA 96041
REDCREST FIRE
PO Box 27
Redcrest, CA 95569
REDWAY FIRE
PO Box 695
REDWAY, CA 95560
RIO DELL FIRE
50 West Center St.
Rio Dell, CA 95562
SALMON CREEK FIRE
PO Box 662
Miranda, CA 95553
Salyer Volunteer Fire Department
PO Box 235
Salyer, CA 95563
Phone: (530) 629-2778
Samoa Fire
1982 Gass St
Samoa, CA 95564
SCOTIA FIRE
PO Box 185
Scotia, CA 95565
SHELTER COVE FIRE
9126 Shelter Cove Road
Whitethorn, CA 95589
SPROWEL CREEK FIRE
PO Box 2122
Redway, CA 95560
SOUTHERN TRINITY VFD, (a bi-county organization serving both eastern Humboldt and Southern Trinity)
P.O. Box 16
Mad River, Ca 95552
SOUTHERN TRINITY AREA RESCUE (STAR), a bi-county EMS/volunteer ambulance service
321 Van Duzen Rd
Bridgeville Ca 95526
TELEGRAPH RIDGE FIRE
PO Box 1152
Redway, CA 95560
Trinity Center Volunteer Fire Department
PO Box 191
Trinity Center, CA 96091
Phone: (530) 266-3420
Weaverville Fire Department
PO Box 447
Weaverville, CA 96093
Phone: (530) 623-6156
WESTHAVEN FIRE Department
PO Box 2143,
Trinidad, CA, CA 95570
WHALE GULCH FIRE
76850B Usal Road
Whitethorn, CA 95589
WHITETHORN FIRE
PO Box 485
Whitethorn, CA 95589
WILLOW CREEK FIRE
P.O. Box 51
Willow Creek, CA 95573
Thanks for posting this, Kym. They need our support as much as we need their help.
Thank you Kim, time to buy more envelops.
As usual spot on!
very cool kym! thanks bunches for posting this fire department help info.
💪🤠🤙
Bell Springs Fire Dept. fundraiser August 13 at Tan Oak Park.
Music, Food, Games and a great family atmosphere.
Come out and show your support!
Hope to see you there
Have someone send me a press release and I’ll definitely post it.
Ok will try. Thank you
Thanks for including our Trinity VFD’s Kym👍
Hydrogen gas explosion?
Hydrogen gas is produced when certain batteries are charged.
Hydrogen gas can cause explosive atmospheres in concentrations from 4.1% to 72%…
(I just looked that up, so FWIW)…
Like the Fukushima power plant explosion. It was all hydrogen that blew up.
Over charging batteries in a confined space will do the same thing
Thanks, how’s it going out there in Hopkinsville, Humbug way?
Hopefully you’re OK, and if you got rain, it helped a little…
The fire stayed behind the hill so we’re fine for now.
I heard a fire line 10 highway lanes wide is protecting yreka.
I hope it’s true.
Good news.
My extended family is ok too, for now I think…
But it got real close…
You must have gotten a pretty hard rain…
Did you see this?
https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2022/aug/3/firefighter-hospitalized-after-flash-flood-washed/
One young firefighter that is lucky to be alive. I don’t think he even saw it coming or he would have not tried to cross the bridge.
Lead acid batts produce hydrogen gas during all charge states above float.
Direct ventilation of charge gases has long been a requirement of NFPA fire code.
Concentrations in excess of 1% are unacceptable.
Sadly most installers and nearly all DIYers ignore this absolute need.
Every time I connect battery cables I remember my mid-1980s high school auto shop teacher warning us of just that. To this day when jumping a batt, the last connection I make is the negative, not to the batt, but, to the chassis. And it always sparks.
That’s the way I do it as well. It also works much better, because the jump isn’t trying to fight it’s way through a battery that is dead or might have a dead cell.
I’ve seen it work grounded to the engine block many times when it wouldn’t work connected only to the terminals.
It’s surprising how many people don’t realize that connecting the last connection to the engine block or to the frame is the correct method.
That looked like a fancy expensive install…
Wait till that happens in your new electric car
👎
5 years and counting. I do remember my neighbors f150 going up in flames inside his garage from a fuel leak. Does that count?
What kind of batteries? There’s really no such thing as “solar batteries”.
More likely batteries used to store energy generated by solar panels.
Looks like might be a Narada Energy Storage container. Some (but not all) of their products use lithium batteries.
Considering that the VFD is not still there trying to contain a tiny sun worth of melting, shorted cathodes & anodes until it burns out, was likely a Lead Acid.
The new Chief rings in the day with some one’s big bang! Very happy that no one was injured or killed in that blast. Hope they get to the bottom of what caused it so it will not happen again. Thank you to the Rio Dell Fire Department. Stay safe!
Anybody make out what the name is on the battery storage container ?
Might be Narada (they make energy storage systems).
I was going to say, “pictures please”, earlier!
Holy shit!
That is an unreal picture!!!
It looks like a Jiffy Pop Popcorn container.
I hope everyone realizes that this is a solid steel seagoing freight container!!!…
They are pretty indestructible!!!
I’m putting my money on a hydrogen gas explosion.
Somebody fucked up on that design!!!
They are gonna be back pedaling like made on those set-ups…
Was that a Narada Energy Storage system?
They make container based battery based energy storage systems.
They use lithium batteries in some of their products.
Saw a video once in a battery safety course of a slim hole tool that used lithium batteries that exploded.
It took off like a rocket until it hit (and split) a tree.
Looks like it. Chinese company.
Sleepy joe must be getting a kick back!
That looks Japanese
Chinese…
Sure looks like it. The battery container was ‘Americanized’.
Wonder who was running it ?
https://images.app.goo.gl/jkjUP77xQEqwD8SC8
It’s a short video, so give it just a bit to load…
Please stop
“… threw it up in the trees, knocked a bunch of widowmakers down…”.
“Windowmakers”? Really? Maybe it’s a term I haven’t heard but with the reference to “trees” it sounds like a typo of the term ‘widowmakers’. Maybe Kym?
If not, can someone educate me/ we ill informed readers? 😉
A windowmaker: when a tree drops branches onto a house, creating a new window.
…without which defenestration cannot occur!
Old standing dead tree