HARTFORD, Wis. (WFRV) – Officials in Wisconsin released details on a fire from September 5, stating that it started after children playing with an electronic device tried to ‘destructively’ take it apart.
According to the Hartford Fire and Rescue Department, crews responded to a house around 10:30 p.m. on September 5 for a reported bedroom fire on South Street, with local police responding.
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Officials at the scene found flames coming from a blanket and a battery, and crews helped remove the items from the home and the occupants were evacuated. The first fire command vehicle still found light smoke and occupants outside.
Crews entered the home to confirm the fire hadn’t spread to the bed or other furniture, and deployed fans to remove the smoke, also ensuring the fire was extinguished. Emergency Medical Service crews took one patient from the house to a hospital for more evaluation.
No fire or EMS personnel were injured, and the cause of the fire was deemed to be that children were playing with an electronic device, and the battery rapidly caught fire while they tried to ‘destructively’ disassemble it.
The Hartford Fire and Rescue Department added that the incident is a reminder that electronic devices with lithium-ion or other high-energy batteries come with extreme danger, especially if misused.
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“Fires from these batteries can grow very rapidly in a matter of seconds, creating very hot, powerful flames,” the release said. “These battery-powered flames can cause immediate burn injuries to any skin that may come in contact with them and cause immediate damage to the lungs of people.”
In addition, the release provided a link with more details on being safe and responsible around lithium-ion batteries.
