Garage Fire in Montgomery County Caused by Child’s Ride-On Vehicle Battery

Article:

A quiet night in the Pinehurst area turned into a harrowing experience for Jennifer Hulon when her garage caught fire due to a battery used in her child’s ride-on vehicle. The Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office swiftly responded to the incident, preventing the flames from spreading into the home.

Hulon recounted the alarming moment, stating, “I ran and got my daughter out.” She explained that a peculiar noise initially caught her attention as she was preparing for bed. Upon investigating, she detected the scent of smoke, realizing the severity of the situation. “There’s a fire,” she exclaimed.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire quickly, attributing the incident to a car battery used in children’s toy vehicles, such as Power Wheels. The Fire Marshal’s office revealed that the homeowner had purchased off-brand replacement batteries from overseas manufacturers in recent years, a factor that may have contributed to the battery’s failure.

Jason Herrman, Magnolia Fire Chief, emphasized the potential gravity of the situation, noting that if they had been asleep, the outcome could have been drastically different. This isn’t the first time such an incident occurred, as Herrman recalled a previous case involving batteries stored in a homeowner’s garage.

“The last run-in was tied to some batteries that weren’t on the charger. They weren’t on the device; they were simply being stored in the homeowner’s garage,” Herrman said.

For Hulon, the experience serves as a wake-up call, prompting her to take precautions. “I’m starting to unplug stuff. I’m going to start, I guess; we’re not going to charge any batteries when we’re sleeping or not home, especially the lithium ones,” she asserted.

The incident underscores the importance of being cautious with off-brand replacement batteries and implementing safety measures when dealing with electronic devices, particularly those used by children. As families rely on various battery-powered gadgets, vigilance in handling and storing these energy sources becomes paramount to prevent potentially devastating consequences.

source: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2023/11/28/battery-used-in-childs-ride-on-vehicle-sparks-garage-fire-in-montgomery-county/

Shares