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To: BenLurkin
Firefighters said Thursday that they are making significant progress on the incident, but there is still the potential for toxic smoke if the batteries ignite again.

The toxic smoke is no joke.

Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Smoke Exposure: Recognition, Decon, and Treatment (First Responder Guide)

Lithium Ion battery fires generate hydrogen fluoride. When it comes in contact with water, it is converted into hydroflouric acid which causes hydrofluoric acid burns.

Since it (hydrofluoric acid) can penetrate tissue, poisoning can occur readily through exposure of skin or eyes, inhalation, or ingestion. Symptoms of exposure to hydrofluoric acid may not be immediately evident, and this can provide false reassurance to victims, causing them to delay medical treatment.

Despite its irritating vapor, HF may reach dangerous levels without an obvious odor. It interferes with nerve function, meaning that burns may not initially be painful.

Accidental exposures can go unnoticed, delaying treatment and increasing the extent and seriousness of the injury. Symptoms of HF exposure include irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, and throat, eye and skin burns, rhinitis, bronchitis, pulmonary edema (fluid buildup in the lungs), and bone damage due to HF strongly interacting with calcium in bones.

In a concentrated form, HF can cause severe tissue destruction through lesions and mucous membrane damage, but dilute HF is still dangerous because of its high lipid affinity, leading to cellular death of nerves, blood vessels, tendons, bones, and other tissues. Cases of intestinal damage from contact with hydrofluoric acid requiring surgical intervention are rare but known in medical literature.

4 posted on 09/24/2026 3:20:32 PM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker (If you want to hate America, watch the news. If you want to love America, drive across it.)
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To: Ol' Dan Tucker
First link is no good.

Try this one: Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Smoke Exposure: Recognition, Decon, and Treatment (First Responder Guide)

5 posted on 09/24/2026 3:22:14 PM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker (If you want to hate America, watch the news. If you want to love America, drive across it.)
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To: Ol' Dan Tucker
converted into hydrofluoric acid

In High School, we would make hydrofluoric acid in Chemistry class, and use Adhesive vinyl to make designs etched on the glass. We had a chemical fume hood for safety. We had a cool Chemistry teacher. She was hot, too.

13 posted on 09/24/2026 4:11:38 PM PDT by FatherofFive (We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor)
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