Fire Department: Garage Fires Caused by Specialty Batteries

One fire may be an accident; two similar fires in a short period of time demonstrates a possible trend, the Murrieta Fire Department said Wednesday in a news release.

The Fire Department responded to two separate structure fires last week, over a three-day period. Both have been determined to be related to the charging of lithium polymer (lipo) batteries, said Spokesperson Matt Corelli.

"These fires resulted in substantial property losses to Murrieta homes," Corelli said.

The first occurred , where a detached three-car garage and it contents were lost. The damage estimate at the time was $100,000

The second fire broke out The damage was estimated to be $24,000.

As a fire safety warning to residents, Corelli said the lipo batteries are generally used in radio-controlled airplanes and cars by hobbyists because they have a very high energy storage capacity.

"However, this makes them a significant fire hazard especially when they are being charged," Corelli said. "The battery’s lithium mixes with oxygen in the air to produce excessive heat and possibly fire. The batteries do not need a fuel source and they can start fire leading to significant loss within a structure and be a threat to animals and people as well."

Corelli added that insurance company investigators have also seen a trend that includes fires as a result of the improper use of the batteries.

The Murrieta Fire Department relayed specific warnings issued by manufacturers, and encouraged users to follow these guidelines:

• Store the batteries in a fireproof container;

• Never leave charging process unattended overnight;

• Use specifically designed chargers for lithium batteries that do not have selectable settings;

• After a crash of your radio-controlled vehicle let battery stand in a safe place for 30 minutes; and

• Do not modify or alter battery packs from individual cell.

The Murrieta Fire Department suggested visiting Towerhobbies.com for a more thorough description of the batteries.

Any other inquiries can be directed to local fire officials at 951-304-3473.