A lithium-ion battery from a scooter was identified as the culprit behind a fiery explosion in a Clairemont backyard on Wednesday. According to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, the blaze ignited around 2:50 a.m. at 3357 Ogalala Avenue, NBC San Diego reported. A 10-foot by 20-foot plastic structure and several trees were set aflame, though crews managed to prevent any damage to the adjacent home.
Homeowner Doug Baker woke to find the storage area where he kept his electric scooter engulfed in flames. “We got a couple of batteries back here," first responders indicated at the scene, pointing to the lithium-ion batteries as the source of the conflagration, NBC 7 San Diego relayed. The fire, which resulted in an estimated property loss of $5,000, also claimed Baker's 21-foot Malibu ski boat and other equipment.
Just days prior, three hybrid airport shuttles succumbed to a similar fate when a lithium-ion battery sparked a fire at the Aladdin parking structure on Kettner Boulevard. The risk of fires caused by these batteries has become a pressing issue, with NBC 7 noting at least seven such fires in the past year alone.
Providing advice to the public, battery salesman Jeff Schwen says, “When you charge devices, heat is your first sign that you have something going on,” in a statement given to NBC 7 last April after a series of battery fires. He also suggests investing in the highest-quality batteries that are within budget. "I would always try to pick a brand that I have done my research on for good reviews and look for, good name brand," Schwen added. Safety often tracks with price as the cheaper batteries tend to lack adequate protection against voltage extremes.
To mitigate risks, Schwen advises careful consideration when purchasing lithium-ion batteries, advocating for grade A quality over lower ones. Additionally, he points out that a lengthy warranty is generally indicative of a product's reliability.
