ST. PAUL, Min. – A man was hospitalized after an electric bicycle caught fire in an East St. Paul apartment building Monday morning.
The St. Paul Fire Department says crews were called to the building, near East Fourth and Hancock streets in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood, at about 8 a.m. after the bicycle caught fire, “causing the third floor filled with smoke.”
Firefighters used a ladder to rescue a man inside. Officials say three residents were assessed at the scene, with one man taken to hospital. His condition has not yet been released.
What’s behind the increase in lithium-ion battery fires?
Lithium-ion batteries – used in most electric bicycles, scooters, vehicles, lawn mowers, power tools, laptops and other rechargeable gadgets – contain liquid electrolytes which burn at higher temperatures and for longer durations than electrolytes used in alkaline batteries.
CBS News reports that “unregulated aftermarket chargers” are helping fuel the rash of battery-related fires across the country.
In a five-month period between late 2023 and early 2024, the Woodbury Fire Department says battery failures the cause of at least five house fires.
St. Paul Fire Department
The FAA says the number of battery-related fires on board flights has also increased by more than 42% in recent years.
The National Fire Protection Association says charging errors can cause a ‘thermal runaway’, where an overheated cell in a battery causes a dangerous chain reaction. Another potential hazard, known as “outgassing,” is when a faulty battery can leak flammable gases into an environment, leading to sudden ignition.
The Woodbury Fire Department gave WCCO these battery-related safety tips earlier this year:
- Read the label and know the voltage and wattage.
- Stop charging batteries once they are full.
- Charge devices on hard surfaces such as desks, tables or counters.
- Only use the batteries intended for their devices and the charging equipment that comes with them.
