Fire at a Maine Fire Department Ignited by Lithium Ion Batteries

The Staceyville Fire Department was damaged by fire that began where lithium ion batteries were charging.

Fire Crews Extinguished the Fire Quickly But the Building, Equipment Were Damaged

A 911 call was placed to the Penobscot Regional Communications Center just before 9:00 Tuesday night reporting smoke coming from the Staceyville Fire Department. Crews responded to 370 Station Road from the Staceyville and numerous other mutual aid fire departments.While they were able to knock down the blaze quickly, the building and several pieces of apparatus were damaged.

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Lithium-Ion Batteries Are Said to Be to Blame

The State Fire Marshals Office was called to conduct an investigation into how the fire started. They were able to determine that the fire started at an interior wall of the fire station, where lithium-ion batteries were charging on a shelf. The fire has been classified as accidental.

One firefighter was transported to a local hospital, treated, and released for a leg injury that was not related to the fire.

The NFPA Has Safety Tips About the Use of Lithium-Ion Batteries

The National Fire Protection Association says there are some safety tips for buying, charging, storing, and using lithium-ion batteries, which can be found in laptops, phones, tools, and other devices:

• Only buy batteries that are listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory and labeled accordingly.
• Stop charging a battery once its full.
• Only use charging equipment that is compatible with your device. To be safe, use only the charging equipment that's supplied with your device.
• Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling, or a change in color.
• And have all repairs performed by a qualified professional.

As always, it's important to have working smoke detectors in your home, at all times.