Lithium battery explosion in e-bike blamed for Glendale house fire

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GLENDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — Firefighters responding to a residential explosion this week in Glendale said lithium batteries were to blame. Lithium batteries are found in many devices we use, from cars to cell phones to toys. I heard pops and explosions. I live three houses down so I heard it. I was going to the gym and the next thing I know there was an explosion of flames. Black smoke billows, neighbor Marcus Kidd said.

The chilling video was the result of an explosion inside a Glendale home. The cause? The Glendale fire said it was the result of an e-bike. They believe the lithium battery inside has exploded, giving the family limited time to act. It escalated very quickly, within five minutes it was a full-blown black smoke fire, said neighbor Tim Matthews. Finding out it was a bike is scary, Kidd added.

In a video taken by a neighbour, you can see one of the seven family members living there running out of the house. Next thing you know, they were trying to grab everything they could and then they were told to stop coming through the house, Kidd said.

After firefighters arrived and brought the blaze under control, another family-owned lithium battery exploded in the driveway. The second, like you said, they were trying to get that one. I was right there when it happened. Watching it explode was a bit scary knowing anyone could ride it, Kidd said.

This incident is now making neighbors nervous, who are looking closely at their lithium-battery electronic devices. It’s a bit crazy because there are a lot of children. We are right next to a primary school and just to know that something like this could happen. And we don’t know when that might happen, it’s kind of scary to have a bike like that, Kidd said.

Lithium batteries are found in everyday items ranging from cell phones and laptops to vape pens, e-bikes and cars. One important thing we always recommend is keeping them away from anything that can catch fire, said Phoenix Fire Captain Todd Keller.

Phoenix Fire warns others to always read manufacturer labels on their electronic devices and follow all instructions. There are signs of a faulty battery. Something that can go wrong with this is if there is some kind of smell coming from it, change in color, change in shape. Are they making weird noises? At this point, don’t use that battery, Keller said.

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