Brookhaven volunteer fire crews spent a good portion of Wednesday evening with a collective eye on a charred apartment at Marjorie Gardens.
An exploding lithium-ion battery of an e-bike is believed to be the culprit of the 5:20 p.m. fire that displaced nine people at the complex on Dorsey Lane, while sending another person to the hospital with burns.
That person’s condition wasn’t immediately known Thursday.
Another person was also hospitalized after suffering a seizure not related to the flames.
Meanwhile, additional VFDs from Westover, Star City River Road and Cool Springs also responded, as did the Morgantown Fire Department, which sent its ladder truck.
Crews quickly knocked back the blaze, storming apartments and making sure no one else was trapped or hurt.
After those companies cleared the scene, the Brookhaven company remained, to perform a “fire watch” every 30 minutes – a measure to keep the flames from rekindling.
Mon EMS and the local American Red Cross were also at the complex. The state fire marshal is investigating.
Lithium-ion batteries are also commonly used in cellphones, laptops, rechargeable lawn equipment and the like.
Sure, it’s pretty easy to get comfortable with the technology, said Jim Smith, who directs MECCA 911, Monongalia County’s emergency dispatch center.
Just don’t get too comfortable.
“You really need to be mindful with the e-bikes,” Smith said.
“It’s best not to park one in your house,” the director continued. “And when it’s time to recharge, it’s better if you have a location outside, because there’s always the chance that something could happen. Don’t charge anything unattended. Batteries overheat. They explode.”
Which happens about 5,000 times a year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
