Dade City garage fire erupts from malfunctioning lithium‑ion batteries: PCFR

Lithium-ion battery sparks Dade City house fire

Pasco County Fire Rescue crews contained a garage fire early Wednesday morning that ignited in a Dade City home from malfunctioning lithium‑ion batteries. FOX 13's Ariel Plasencia reports.

DADE CITY, Fla. - Pasco County Fire Rescue crews contained a garage fire early Wednesday morning that ignited in a Dade City home from malfunctioning lithium‑ion batteries.

The backstory:

PCFR says at around 3 a.m., firefighters arrived at the scene on Colwell Court, where heavy flames were coming from the garage of a home.

Courtesy: Pasco County Fire Rescue

Crews kept the fire under control, and no injuries were reported.

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Damage to the home was limited due to the garage door being closed during the blaze, PCFR said.

Investigators deemed the fire as accidental, finding that the malfunctioning batteries caused nearby materials in the garage to catch fire.

PCFR couldn’t say exactly what kind of equipment the charging battery belonged to.

What they're saying:

Fire officials are reminding residents that lithium-ion batteries — commonly used in our everyday devices— are generally safe but can become dangerous if damaged, overheated or improperly charged.

"The big thing is, is that lithium-ion batteries store a lot of energy in a small place," Pasco Fire Rescue Deputy Fire Chief Shawn Whited said. "So these batteries can overheat and start a fire or even explode if they're overcharged or damaged. So the big thing to remember is to charge and recycle these batteries safely."

Safety Reminder:

PCFR recommends the following safety tips:

• Use only the charger and battery made for your device.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• Unplug devices once fully charged.
• Charge batteries in a cool, open area.
• Keep batteries away from heat and flammable items.
• Replace batteries that are swollen, damaged or unusually hot.

"Always make sure you're charging that device outside of the home. The garage is a good spot to charge that. But if you're charging it in the garage, don't leave it unattended," Whited added. "That way, if something happens, they usually start to smoke or start to swell. You can see that."