Batteries spark 2 devastating house fires on same day in Portland area

Batteries spark 2 devastating house fires on same day in Portland area

Julia Lopez | Sep. 14, 2024

GRESHAM Ore. (KPTV) - Eleven people total were displaced after two separate fires sparked in just one day this week in the Portland area, both caused by Lithium-ion batteries in what’s known as a thermal runaway.

Lithium-ion batteries are found in devices such as phones, laptops, and tablets; they’re also found in rechargeable electric scooters, bikes and cars. Due to internal or external factors, they can defect and overheat, which is what happened to one Gresham family now without a home.

Josawa Heagle was asleep with his family in their apartment on Southeast Division Street when a fire started just before midnight Thursday.

“I would expect it if it was hooked up to a charger, but just sitting there? No, not to explode and catch everything around it on fire,” Heagle said. He said the smell of smoke and a blaze in their backyard woke them up.

“I was in a panic, I thought it was a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from,” Heagle said...more
https://www.kptv.com/2024/09/15/batteries-spark-2-devastating-house-fires-same-day-portland-area/



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When the first battery school buses catch on fire (of course hopefully not but hoping when it comes to safety is a fools errand) maybe there won't be any audio. The images will be bad enough.