A new opinion piece from Data Center Dynamics makes a simple but important point: as data centers pack more lithium-ion batteries into their buildings, fire safety rules and practices need to catch up. For communities living near these facilities, that’s not an abstract industry debate — it’s a question about what’s stored down the road and how prepared local responders are if something goes wrong.
Why batteries are showing up everywhere
Lithium-ion batteries have become the default choice for backup power in modern data centers, replacing older lead-acid systems in many uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). Some facilities also pair large battery energy storage systems (BESS) with on-site generation or grid connections, using batteries to smooth out power demand or provide backup during outages. As AI workloads push data centers to add more power capacity, the amount of battery storage on any given site is generally growing too.
Why that matters for fire risk
Lithium-ion batteries can be very safe when properly designed, installed, and maintained. But they can also fail in a way called thermal runaway, where a damaged or overheated cell triggers a chain reaction that’s difficult to stop with traditional fire suppression methods. Firefighters across the country have described lithium battery fires as requiring different tactics than conventional electrical or structural fires — sometimes more water, more time, and more specialized training than a typical incident. Codes and standards for handling this risk in large-scale settings are still evolving, which is the exact gap the source article is flagging.
What everyday people can actually do
Most of this plays out far from the public eye, in fire codes, permitting reviews, and internal safety plans. But that doesn’t mean residents are powerless. Local fire departments and building officials are the ones who ultimately have to sign off on suppression systems, emergency access, and battery storage layouts — and public permitting hearings are typically open to comment. If a data center or battery storage facility is proposed or expanding near you, it’s reasonable to ask what fire suppression system is planned, whether local firefighters have received lithium-ion-specific training, and how emergency plans account for battery storage on-site.
The bigger picture
This is part of a broader pattern GridWatch tracks: infrastructure decisions made quickly to keep up with AI-driven demand, sometimes outpacing the safety and oversight systems meant to govern them. We don’t yet know how individual jurisdictions are handling lithium-ion fire risk at data centers — that’s exactly the kind of detail worth asking about locally. Check our facility map for projects near you, browse our explainer library for background on how data center power systems work, and see how to get involved in local permitting and safety conversations.
Source: Data Center Dynamics