STONEHAM — The Stoneham Fire Department was called to fight a fire in a single-family home early Monday morning that was determined to have been caused by a lithium ion battery pack.
On Monday Aug. 10, at about 7:20 a.m., Stoneham Fire Engines 1 and 4, Ladder 1, and Car 2 responded to 12 Gracewood Road after a neighbor reported smoke coming from a single-family home.
Immediately upon arrival, fire crews saw smoke coming from the front door and a full working fire response was requested, bringing in mutual aid support from surrounding communities to Stoneham.
The home was unoccupied at the time the fire was reported, and the neighbor who originally reported the fire was able to rescue a dog from the home prior to the arrival of firefighters.
After extinguishing the flames, an investigation led by Engine 1 crews determined that the fire was caused by a lithium ion battery pack from a leaf blower that caught fire after it was left out to dry in the kitchen after having fallen in the pool days earlier. The battery was removed from the home and placed in a hazardous materials storage container for proper disposal.
Crews remained on scene for another hour after the fire was extinguished in order to ventilate the home and monitor the air quality. Two residents are temporarily displaced until crews are finished cleaning up the smoke damage in the home.
Mutual aid on scene was provided by the Wakefield Fire Department. Crews from the Reading and Winchester Fire Departments provided station coverage.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Stoneham Fire Department would also like to share the following safety tips for using and handling lithium ion batteries:
- Buy only listed products – When buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery look for a safety certification mark such as UL, ETL, or CSA. This means it meets important safety standards.
- Charge devices safely – Always use the cords that came with the product to charge. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer. Buy new chargers from the manufacturer or one that the manufacturer has approved. Charge your device on a hard surface. Don’t overcharge your device. Unplug it or remove the battery when it’s fully charged.
- Recycle batteries responsibly – Don’t throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or regular recycling bins because they could start a fire. Recycle your device or battery at a safe battery recycling location. Visit call2recycle.org to find a recycling spot near you.
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