VIDEOS/PHOTOS: The Grand Rapids Fire Department is warning residents about an increase in battery fires from e-scooters, electric bikes and other devices powered by lithium-ion batteries. In one month, GRFD has responded to three battery fires.
Part of the challenge is that it takes crews longer to put battery fires completely out and the fires release a toxic smoke. “We had three within a month,” Grand Rapids Fire Marshal Captain Bill Smith said. One fire happened inside a home after a personal scooter caught fire despite having no known issues or recalls. “We did research. It didn’t have anything that popped out to us that signaled it was an issue. There was no recalls that we could find. He had had it for about three years,” Smith added. Another incident involved a Lime scooter following an accident. GR Mobile explains that “Lime has vigorous safety testing and regulation of the batteries.” Smith advises extreme caution around these devices in confined spaces.
