A 4-alarm fire at a hobby shop on Cranberry Highway in Onset, Massachusetts, last Saturday, was likely caused by lithium-ion batteries. Onset Fire Chief Jeffrey R. Osswald emphasized, "Lithium-ion batteries power many of the devices we use every day." The fire caused severe damage and toxic smoke, with firefighters facing intense flames in two businesses. One firefighter was treated and released from the hospital, according to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
A fire at a battery storage site was caused by a lithium-ion battery failure, prompting a Hazmat response. State Fire Marshal Davine pointed out that "About 135 lithium-ion battery fires were reported in Massachusetts last year, and we believe the true number is even higher." He also warned, "When these batteries are abused, overcharged, overheated, or defective, they can fail rapidly and violently in a fire or explosion that also releases toxic, flammable gases," as stated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
After the incident, Osswald and Davine advised following safety guidelines for lithium-ion batteries, including using proper chargers, following manufacturer instructions, and recycling them safely. They encouraged using Call2Recycle for disposal. Multiple agencies, including Wareham Fire District, Wareham EMS, and Bourne Fire Department, responded, with support from the Department of Fire Services to assist incident commanders and ensure firefighter safety, as reported by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
