SAUGUS — At the latest Board of Selectmen meeting, Town Meeting member Robert Camuso approached the Board during public comment to bring up a project that would put a lithium battery park on the Caddy Farm property, located between Saugus and Revere.
A lithium battery park consists of large batteries, the size of tractor-trailers, which store electricity for later use.
Camuso noted that there were plans for Revere to vote on the park on Monday during a city council meeting at Revere City Hall at 6 p.m.
“My concerns is the hazard is in the close vicinity of all the Saugus neighborhoods… Has anybody from Saugus talked to Revere about this yet?” he asked the Board.
No one on the Board had received notice from Revere of plans for a lithium battery park at that location.
Camuso continued that the park would be closer to Saugus than it would be to Revere, and that he had heard the Revere Fire Department was supporting the park because they are receiving new equipment to put out lithium fires. He then mentioned that the Essex Street fire station would be the first to respond if a fire happened at the park, leaving the Saugus firefighters with no special equipment if this situation were to occur.
“What are they supposed to do? Wait for Revere to show up? Not having the equipment to put out this fire? You’re putting Saugus firefighters in danger for not having the proper equipment to handle this situation,” he said.
Camuso said he thought Revere would communicate something to the town to alert them of the possible vote, and Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta said they hadn’t heard anything.
“There’s 57 battery buildings that are going there. And I don’t know if you guys are familiar with these batteries, but if we can’t put out a car, a Tesla fire on Route 1, these are facilities. You’re talking a thousand times worse… I’m doing worst-case scenario here, but (with) the heavy fumes you’d have to evacuate Cliftondale Square,” he said, continuing that he was shocked the Revere firefighters would support it.
Selectman Mike Serino said he would be attending the meeting, and Panetta said that any selectmen who could attend would. Selectman Vice Chair Anthony Cogliano also mentioned that he had heard a park might be put in Saugus.
Town Meeting member and Revere firefighter Matt Parlante spoke on the matter as well.
“What I know for a fact is the Revere Fire Department hasn’t been guaranteed anything. They’ve been locked out of conversations with this battery company. There was a push by city council to have them involved with it, which is hence the meeting Monday night where the fire department is going to be able to have a say,” Parlante said.
Parlante continued that the fire department needs to be as prepared as possible, and that a conversation should be had to see what Saugus can get out of the situation.
