Lenoir County fire sparked by lithium-ion battery prompts safety warning

LENOIR COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - Emergency officials are warning about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries after a house fire in Lenoir County was traced to one that wasn’t even in use or being charged.

Firefighters from several volunteer departments responded early Friday morning after a homeowner was awakened by smoke detectors and discovered a fire that started from a lithium-ion battery connected to a leaf blower. The battery had been sitting idle when it suddenly overheated and caught fire.

No one was injured, but the blaze caused significant damage to the home.

Lenoir County Emergency Services Director Norm Bryson said this is a reminder of how unpredictable lithium-ion batteries can be and how important it is to store them safely.

“Storing your lithium batteries in an outdoor shed not attached to your home is a good idea so if it does catch on fire — it’s the shed and not your home,” Bryson said.

Lithium-ion batteries are found in everyday devices like power tools, e-bikes, scooters, laptops and cell phones. While convenient and widely used, they can pose a fire risk if they are damaged, stored in high heat, or charged improperly.

Bryson emphasized that the goal is awareness — not alarm.

“We aren’t trying to cause panic — we want people to be aware,” he said. “If you have them in your own home, just store them properly. These batteries will be around for a long time in everything we have today.”

He added that in this case, working smoke alarms made all the difference.

“Smoke alarms do save lives — everyone should have working ones in their house and make sure you are keeping them up to date,” Bryson said.

Fire officials recommend always using the charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer, avoiding overnight charging, and keeping batteries away from flammable surfaces. They also stress the importance of recycling old or damaged batteries at proper collection sites instead of throwing them in the trash.