Lithium and water equals....lithium hydroxide + hydrogen gas + heat. Heat ignites hydrogen = fire. Very difficult to put out. Water just catalyzes reaction. See youtube videos for reaction of lithium and water.
One of pitfalls of lithium batteries.
So I guess all the fire departments will need to buy airport style fire trucks which use nothing but foam. That should only cost the tax payers zillions. And this happening in a big city and no foam for 4 hours?
Seems a bit odd.