An apartment fire in west Gainesville Friday night was apparently caused by a lithium battery.
“The department responded to a commercial fire at Carrington Apartments,” Gainesville Fire Chief Brandon Ellis said late Saturday night. “The fire is suspected of starting from a lithium battery left on charge.”
Chief Ellis added that the sprinkler system did its job, activated “and contained the fire to the room of origin. No injuries were reported.”
The Carrington Apartment complex is located on Dawsonville Highway.
So, what are some precautions you should take in using or charging lithium batteries – or is there anything at all you can do?
“While these batteries provide an effective and efficient source of power, the likelihood of them overheating, catching on fire, and even leading to explosions increases when they are damaged or improperly used, charged, or stored,” the National Fire Protection Association says.
NFPA offers several resources that provide information to promote safer use of lithium-ion batteries across a wide range of applications.
Click here for more information: Lithium-Ion Battery Safety