SAN DIEGO — A large shipping container with lithium ion batteries inside caught fire Thursday next to a two-story residence in the East Village, fire officials said.
The blaze was reported at 4:42 a.m. Thursday at 17th Street and F Street and it took San Diego Fire-Rescue Department crews about 20 minutes to put it out, Battalion Chief Chris Bagler told OnScene TV.
Because the 25-foot-tall container was full of exploding batteries, a HAZMAT team arrived to determine the toxicity in the area, Bagler said. Several residents of the subsidized housing were evacuated.
No injuries to the residents and firefighters were reported.
