A scooter battery explodes in an apartment, injuring five people

(TNS) – A lithium-ion battery intended for an electric scooter burst into flames in a Chelsea, Massachusetts, apartment, injuring five people, and the fire department issued a reminder on how to safely handle the popular devices.

Chelsea firefighters responded to Carmel St. 32 around 12:40 last Saturday after receiving a report of a fire. Upon arrival, they observed smoke and flames on the first floor at the rear of the three-story, four-unit building, the state Fire Marshal’s Office said in a statement Wednesday.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, but four residents of the building were taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries that authorities described as non-life-threatening.

Chelsea Fire Department and Massachusetts State Police determined that “a lithium-ion battery intended for an e-scooter was charged for several hours before igniting and exploding,” the state fire marshal’s office said in a news release.

“The high energy density of lithium-ion batteries means they pack a lot of power into a small device,” said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. “Overcharging, overheating and physical damage can cause them to fail quickly and violently, as happened here. Fortunately, the residents were conscious and aware of the danger. A few hours later, the story could have turned out completely differently.

Firefighters across Massachusetts are facing the “nearly impossible” task of extinguishing lithium-ion battery fires more than ever before, according to data released last month. The figures showed the number of fires had increased sharply since October last year.

About 38 cities and towns reported 50 lithium-ion battery fires between October last year and mid-April, more than twice the annual average detected by the National Fire Data Reporting System.

“The increase since last fall may be due to the increasing number of consumer devices powered by these batteries, increased attention from local fire inspectors, or other factors,” Davine said last month.

Last fall, the state Department of Fire Services created a checklist to help local departments track the number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, which power large devices like electric vehicles and smaller items like smartphones and e-cigarettes.

“Lithium-ion batteries power many of the devices we use every day,” Chelsea Fire Chief John Quatieri said in the release. “It is important to use, charge and store them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.”

“Always use original charging equipment, unplug it when the device is fully charged and protect it from damage or abuse,” he added. “If you use an electric bike or electric scooter, store it outdoors if possible. If you must store it indoors, keep it away from doors, windows and other escape routes.