Fire Marshal Uncovers House of Horrors Lurking Inside Bitcoin-Mining Data Center
A disaster waiting to happen. The post Fire Marshal Uncovers House of Horrors Lurking Inside Bitcoin-Mining Data Center appeared first on Futurism .
In August, a massive water leak in El Reno, Oklahoma, resulted in nearly four million gallons of water infiltrating the city, leading to a temporary standstill. The culprit was identified as a compromised water line at a Bitcoin-mining data center owned by Athlon BT. Prior to the incident, inspections revealed numerous infractions, including drainage, maintenance, access, and expired building permits.
Months later, a fire marshal's investigation inside the El Reno data center unveiled a trove of alarming violations. Among the dangers, investigators found liquid combustibles near flammable materials, improperly maintained fire extinguishers, disheveled electrical equipment, and wiring. Furthermore, a lockbox containing emergency access keys for first responders remained empty.
The exterior vegetation also fell short of the fire code. Consequently, the city rated the facility a "failing" grade, denoting critical structural or safety failures. Fire safety is of paramount importance in data centers, given their susceptibility to fires due to high electrical loads, lithium-ion batteries, and heat-generating components.
In one Ohio township, firefighters reported being inundated with calls to two data center complexes, straining emergency response resources. Moreover, data center fires impose financial burdens on taxpayers, as property tax abatements often shift the cost burden to nearby residents rather than the data center owners.
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