House Fire In Morris Co. Was Sparked By Lithium Ion Batteries: Police

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — An electric scooter that had lithium-ion batteries appears to be the source of a fire that damaged a Morris County home on Tuesday evening, authorities said.

No one was injured in the house fire on Center Street, located in the Port Morris section of Roxbury Township, officials said.

At about 9 p.m., the Roxbury Township Fire Department was dispatched to the residence after getting a report of smoke coming up from the basement. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they saw smoke reaching the first floor of a multifamily building.

Recognizing the potential for the situation to escalate, the fire chief said he requested additional support. Netcong Hilltop Fire Company No. 2 and Netcong Fire Company No. 1 were called to provide the Rapid Intervention Team, while the tower ladder and Rescue Squad from Flanders Fire Co. #1 were also dispatched to assist, according to authorities.

Fire crews discovered an electric scooter ablaze in the residence's basement. They quickly removed the scooter from the building and extinguished the flames, preventing any fire from spreading to the rest of the home.

"A preliminary investigation revealed a malfunction of the lithium-ion batteries on the electric scooter," fire officials said.

Following the incident, officials reported that the building was ventilated to clear out smoke and any remaining fumes.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are used to power many electronics, toys, household appliances, hand tools, and electric vehicles (including scooters, bicycles, and cars).

The New Jersey Division of Fire Safety issued safety guidelines last June on properly charging and storing these batteries. Officials emphasized that lithium-ion batteries pose a risk of overheating, catching fire, or even exploding if they are handled improperly and/or exposed to high temperatures.