Homeowner Injured Trying To Put Out Fire Caused By Lithium Polymer Battery
By Mark Taylor
LONE TREE, Colo. (CBS4) - Firefighters responded to a house fire in Lone Tree at approximately 3 a.m. Monday on Peacock Drive.
By the time they arrived, there were only fumes left as the fire was already out.
The homeowner was able to put out the fire, and suffered burns to his hands and face. He was taken to the hospital for evaluation. The family was able to escape.
Becky O'Guin from South Metro Fire Rescue said the cause of the fire was a lithium polymer battery that ignited in the basement. The battery was inside a remote controlled car that was charging.
South Metro Fire said they've seen a sharp increase in those types of fires.
"It actually started a fire inside the fire-proof case," O'Guin said.
O'Guin said they believe the battery had been used up completely and then left to charge overnight. That's just one of a long list of warnings associated with those types of batteries.
"You have to follow the manufacturer's directions to the 'T,'" O'Guin said.
Firefighters say lithium polymer batteries have caused three fires this year alone. In one case the fire killed a family's cat. The increase prompted South Metro Fire to release a warning video earlier this month.
Lithium polymer batteries are also used in popular hoverboards which have been banned on some airplanes and by the U.S. Postal Service because they've been catching on fire.
"They are very volatile, especially when charging," O'Guin said.
O'Guin said as high-tech toys like drones, hoverboards and remote controlled cars gain in popularity, or are gifted during the holidays, they warn parents to never let children play with them alone.
"The toy itself might not be dangerous but these batteries should be overseen by an adult who is very familiar with how they work, and how they're charged."
South Metro Fire says in addition to following the directions on how to correctly charge and handle the batteries, they add to also charge them in a place like a garage or shed, and not directly inside a home.
Mark Taylor is a weekend morning anchor and reporter with CBS4 news covering a wide variety of stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkTaylor_TV.
