Lithium-ion battery believed to have sparked Charleston house fire

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A lithium-ion battery is believed to have sparked an early Monday morning house fire in Charleston.

Emergency responders from multiple agencies responded to a home on Barbados Drive around 2:14 a.m. and found smoke coming from the garage of a two-story, elevated home.

The residents told firefighters that they were woken up by a sound coming from the garage. That is when they found the fire, evacuated the home, and called 911.

Firefighters were able to confine the fire damage to the garage area.

Members of the fire marshal’s office responded to review the incident. Investigators said the fire appeared to have started within a cabinet in the garage where they found the remains of a charger and batteries.

The occupant told fire officials that he had purchased a generic replacement lithium-ion battery for a tool and had placed it on charge inside the cabinet before going to bed.

No injuries were reported.