Fire chief urges caution as planning board considers battery storage rules
Belgrade’s fire chief briefed the planning board on firefighting, containment and environmental risks tied to large battery-energy-storage systems, and members discussed relying on NFPA 855 and developer-funded suppression, training and containment measures.
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Belgrade Fire Chief Dan McKenzie told the planning board that large battery-energy-storage systems (BESS) pose distinct firefighting challenges for small towns without municipal water or hydrants. He described limits on local manpower and the difficulty of cooling and extinguishing thermal-runaway battery fires, suggesting developer-funded suppression equipment and training for local crews.
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