SUMMERSIDE — Summerside city officials lifted a voluntary shelter-in-place notice for some residents on Thursday evening after provincial health authorities said there is no evidence the ongoing lithium-ion battery fire at the Sunbank solar farm poses a risk to public health.
The decision to rescind the advisory, announced in a 6 p.m. update from the city, follows guidance from P.E.I.'s chief public health officer, Dr. Heather Morrison, who reviewed air sampling and other test results gathered during the response.
Public-health guidance and school reopening
Dr. Morrison told officials earlier Thursday that, based on available evidence and tests to date, the fire has not produced conditions that threaten the health of the community. She also recommended that area schools — which had not yet opened for the new school year — welcome students back on Friday.
While advising that smoke and some combustion by-products can irritate people with respiratory conditions, Morrison said those substances generally dissipate quickly outdoors and do not present a risk to the broader public.
Fire response and ongoing monitoring
Emergency crews continued work at the Sunbank site into Thursday, the fourth day of operations to fight the battery blaze. City crews described the response as a "roller coaster," with progress and setbacks overnight.
"Our emergency crews will remain on site to continue monitoring the situation until the fire is extinguished,"
the city update said. Officials reported a flare-up Wednesday night when a battery cell that had been thought to be spent re-ignited at about 9 p.m. Summerside's chief administrative officer, JP Desrosiers, acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the event and the need for sustained vigilance.
What the public should know
The city has provided guidance for residents in affected areas while monitoring continues. Key points for the community include:
- Shelter-in-place lifted: the voluntary notice for some residents was rescinded effective immediately.
- Schools: P.E.I.'s chief public health officer recommended students in the Summerside area return to school on Friday.
- Ongoing monitoring: emergency personnel remain at the site to extinguish remaining cells and watch for re-ignition.
Timeline of the event
The following table summarises the key developments reported during the most recent days of the incident.
| Date/Time | Development |
|---|---|
| Wednesday night | Flare-up when a battery cell reignited at about 9 p.m. |
| Thursday, 6 p.m. | City issues update and lifts voluntary shelter-in-place for some residents based on public-health guidance |
| Thursday (during day) | P.E.I. CPHO says tests show no threat to public health and recommends schools reopen |
Local impact and next steps
For Summerside households, especially those with people who have respiratory illnesses, officials stress individual caution. Residents who experience symptoms or have concerns should follow normal health-care pathways, including contacting their family physician or Health PEI for advice.
The city and provincial agencies will continue air-quality sampling and site monitoring until crews confirm the fire is fully extinguished and remaining thermal risks are mitigated. Authorities have not announced a timeline for when the site will be considered safe to leave unattended.
This incident underscores the complexities of fighting lithium-ion battery fires, which can re-ignite and require prolonged response. For now, the immediate public-health risk appears to be low, but emergency personnel remain at the scene and officials advise residents to stay alert to updates.
WE NEWS will continue to follow developments and report any new advisories or changes to community guidance as they are issued.
