ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WXYZ) — A man in Ann Arbor suffered burns to his hands after an electric longboard caught fire inside his home on Friday morning.
The department said firefighters arrived to the scene on Pontiac Trail near Swift Street around 7 a.m. and found the lithium-ion battery scooter on fire in the front yard. The Ann Arbor Fire Department originally called it a scooter in a Facebook post Friday, but the owner, Jonethan James, clarified to us that is was an electric longboard.
James was woken up by smoke detectors inside his home to find his longboard burning just inside the front door. He grabbed the burning scooter and threw it outside.
James suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation but refused transport to the hospital.
The scorched wall inside the apartment and the charred remains is what’s left of James' electric longboard that randomly burst into flames. After the smoke detector woke him up, he said he saw an orange glow coming from his main floor.
“I was just hitting the board to put out the fire and it was working for a second until it reignited," James said while showing a blanket he used to attempt to snuff out the flames. "I was like, this is not something I'm going to be able to handle.”
James then picked up the burning board and threw it outside. The lithium-ion battery wasn’t plugged in, wasn’t wet, wasn’t cheap and was only two months old. James rides the board to work most days but said it wasn’t turning on the day prior.
James also said the fire coming from the battery was no joke.
“It's literally a rocket that takes off," Ann Arbor Fire Chief Mike Kennedy said. "It's an explosive flame that is like a mini jet engine that shoots out of these batteries. And they go into what's called thermal runaways where one will go off and then it’s a whole series that really can't be stopped at that point until they run out.”
Kennedy says they responded to the apartment, and from lawnmowers to power tools, it’s not their first battery fire.
“Unfortunately, we have seen quite a few of these," Kennedy said. "This is our sixth one this year in the city of Ann Arbor by itself of some sort of lithium-ion battery.”
The fire department strongly warns people not to store lithium-ion batteries near exits, and in this case, the front door was James' only way out. They also point to the working smoke alarm that saved him.
“There was no smoke, there was nothing, just the smoke alarm that woke me up,” James said.
While James suffered minor burns on his hands, besides the damage and lingering smell, tragedy was avoided.
“Had this been someone who wasn't as able or wasn't able to have the wherewithal that he did to grab it and throw it in the front yard, this would have been a lot different,” Kennedy said. "It was brand new, he took good care of it, it wasn't being charged, he was doing everything right. So the fact this thing failed the way it did is concerning.”
“Really hoping they send me a replacement. That would be my ideal situation," James said.
The fire department is warning the public that anytime a lithium-ion battery device is not working correctly, it should be left outside and at least 10 feet from a structure.
They listed these warning signs for devices:
- Pungent odors
- Discoloration, blistering, bulging, or swelling of the casing
- Leaking electrolyte
- Heating up and feeling extremely hot to touch
- Abnormal popping, hissing or crackling sounds, smoke and fumes
- Never touch a swollen or ruptured device or battery with bare hands as the heat and/or chemicals can cause severe burns. Use a tool such as shovel or dust pan.
If a small battery or device starts overheating or is swollen:
- Unplug it from the power outlet if it is on charge
- Avoid inhaling any smoke or fumes
- If possible, remove it to an outside area away from any combustible material and away from windows or doorways. It is recommended to leave it outside for at least 24-hours
