VIDEO: Authorities have often warned that lithium-ion batteries can pose a fire risk. Some such batteries are not allowed on airplanes in the U.S., and they require special procedures when thrown away. On Tuesday morning, just past midnight, Shelburne firefighters responded to a home on Elmore Street after a fire alarm went off.
When responders arrived, homeowners said that they had heard a loud explosion from their basement and found that a foam roller, a type of massage device, was on fire with flames several feet into the air. They said they had quickly covered the roller with a blanket, taken it outside, and put out the fire with a garden hose.
Firefighters then ventilated the home to clear it of smoke, during which the device began again to heat up, but crews were able to contain and secure it before serious damage occurred. According to authorities, only minor damage was caused to the house by fire and smoke, and nobody was injured. The device was reportedly being charged when it initially caught fire. The Shelburne Fire Department advises people to use only manufacturer-approved chargers, avoid charging batteries while asleep or away from your home, and to buy batteries from reputable sellers.
