Fire at La Verne water treatment plant prompts hazmat response, evacuations

A fire erupted Tuesday around 11:40 a.m. at a Metropolitan Water District battery energy storage facility in La Verne, California. The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded with hazmat crews, operating in defensive mode. Evacuation orders affected nearby shopping areas and schools, including Grace Miller Elementary and the University of La Verne. One employee was hospitalized with minor injuries. While the local water supply remains unaffected, officials are currently investigating the cause of the blaze.