PHOTOS: The Maine State Fire Marshalโs Office is investigating a vehicle fire that broke out Saturday night at a home on Moderation Street in Hollis. The fire started around 11:45 p.m. and involved a custom show car and a nearby portable garage. According to investigators, a faulty, homemade lithium-ion battery bank that was being charged was the cause of the fire. The vehicle’s owner had reportedly been installing a custom-built, battery-powered audio system in preparation for an upcoming audio show. When the battery pack malfunctioned, it sparked a fire that damaged both the vehicle and the adjacent garage.
No serious injuries were reported. State officials are urging caution when working with high-capacity, do-it-yourself energy storage systems, particularly those that use lithium-ion batteries. They say improper charging or modifications can pose serious fire hazards. Fires involving these types of batteries are also notoriously difficult to extinguish, burn at extreme temperatures, and can sometimes reignite hours or days later.
