House fire avoided when lithium battery explodes

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

GOLDEN TOWNSHIP — A house fire was avoided when a lithium battery exploded on the home’s front porch on North June Drive Monday, May 12, shortly before 4 p.m. 

“They were charging a small RC (radio-controlled) car battery in their enclosed front porch,” said Hart Area Fire Department Public Information Officer Troy Maloney, who is also the Oceana County emergency manager. “The battery exploded, nearly injuring two people who were standing right by it.”

The table the battery was on, along with a chair and other items on the table, caught fire, said Maloney.

The homeowner’s neighbors, who are trained in emergency response, came to the rescue and extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived.

“The neighbors came over with a fire extinguisher and put out the furniture that was on fire. Then, we took the table that had the parts on it outside and put the lithium battery into a metal bucket of water.

“It was a small battery, so it expended all of its energy, but if it would have been any bigger, they would not have gotten it out. It’s a lesson that when it comes to lithium batteries, don’t charge them inside. It was a close call — they’re lucky nobody got hurt. They were very close to it when it exploded.

“They’re lucky the neighbors heard the explosion; saw the flames; grabbed the fire extinguisher; and ran across the street.” The good samaritans are a DNR Silver Lake State Park ranger and a volunteer firefighter for Ferry Township Fire Department, said Maloney. “It was very fortunate they were both there and acted.”

The Ferry Township firefighter is Noah Bosley, said Ferry Township Fire Chief Brad Fritcher. The park ranger’s name was not immediately available.

With the popularity of electric bikes, lithium battery explosions are becoming more and more common, especially in large cities, said Maloney. “Take your battery out at night; don’t leave it in your bike; and charge it outside — or charge where you can pay attention to it.”

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