An electric scooter powered by a lithium-ion battery caught fire in a District of Columbia apartment Sunday, D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services said on social media. No one was injured.
The fire broke out soon before 4:23 p.m. in a third-floor apartment of a five-story building in the 3700 block of 16th Street NW.
D.C. fire investigators confirmed the scooter was the source of the fire. They didn’t specify whether the scooter and its lithium battery were charging at the time the fire started in their series of social media posts.
Fire officials recommend keeping the scooters away from exits and entryways and to charge them with only the official chargers they come with.
“Lithium ion batteries can ignite spontaneously, even if not being charged. Never leave mobility devices where they can block your escape if they ignite. Never overcharge and always use chargers that came with the device,” a D.C. Fire and EMS spokesperson told CBS affiliate WUSA.
A Hazmat unit took the batteries away, and the fire was quickly extinguished, D.C. fire officials said.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.