Bonita High School Lockdown: Shelter-in-Place Order Issued During La Verne Lithium-Ion Battery Fire
LA VERNE, California — Bonita High School was placed under a shelter-in-place order Tuesday, September 22, 2026, as firefighters responded to a hazardous lithium-ion battery fire at a Metropolitan Water District facility in La Verne.
The fire was reported at approximately 11:40 a.m. at the facility on Wheeler Avenue, near Bonita Avenue. Authorities said the blaze involved a battery energy storage system located near a solar panel field at the site of the Weymouth Water Treatment Plant.
As firefighters worked to contain the incident, officials issued evacuation orders for areas around Wheeler and Bonita avenues. Residents in surrounding areas were also instructed to shelter in place and keep doors, windows and vents closed because of potential hazards associated with the battery fire.
Bonita High School and Grace Miller Elementary School were among the schools affected by the emergency response. Both were placed under shelter-in-place orders while crews dealt with the fire. The University of La Verne was also evacuated, with classes canceled temporarily.
One person suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital, according to the La Verne Fire Department. Officials said the fire was brought under control Tuesday afternoon, although firefighters continued monitoring the battery storage equipment because lithium-ion batteries can remain hazardous after an initial fire.
By Wednesday morning, September 23, firefighters were monitoring a second battery storage unit after temperatures inside the unit increased following exposure to heat from the original fire. The immediate evacuation order around the Metropolitan Water District facility remained in effect.
Officials have said the community’s water supply was not affected by the incident. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Authorities continue to monitor the facility and surrounding area as crews work to ensure the remaining battery units are safe. Residents are being urged to follow official evacuation and emergency instructions while the response continues.