BOONE, N.C. — A Boone college apartment complex Wednesday was heavily damaged in a fire reportedly caused by a lithium-ion battery on an electric skateboard, investigators said.
Firefighters were called to the scene at about 12:30 p.m. at The Finmore apartments near Appalachian State University.
“It was a loud explosion, almost like a gunshot,” said student Jackson Colgan. “And I felt debris and gas hit my back. So, I whipped around and immediately the living room was filled with smoke and fire.”
Jackson rushed to get to Holly Smith, also in the apartment. The two are engaged.
They said the smoke detector was going off, but the alarm for the building wasn’t working.
The automatic sprinkler/standpipe system was turned off without the notification or approval of the fire department, officials said.
“It’s pretty terrifying,” Smith said. “I am really grateful that I had my phone on me and was able to call 911.”
Firefighters forcibly entered the sprinkler-riser room to restore water to the systems.
The fire was controlled at 12:53 p.m. and extinguished by use from a hose supplied from a fire engine. It was contained to that apartment.
One person was taken to Watauga Medical Center for evaluation.
Firefighters ensured the sprinkler contractor returned the systems back to full operation. Officials said fire suppression systems are installed in the area taking extreme weather conditions into account. Property owners should are required to ensure they are working.
“It could have put all of our lives at risk and that’s insane,” said student Daniella Warwick.
“They said it was because of the cold weather, but it’s Boone. It snows every other day,” said student Mahayla Lanning.
The investigation revealed the fire was caused by a “malfunctioning lithium-ion battery in an electric skateboard.”
Several units were impacted, but crews believe a shut door may have kept the fire from spreading even more.
“So many studies have shown that closing a door behind you, whether it’s your bedroom or, in this case, an apartment, to protect the rest of the building, does so much to limit the spread of smoke and fire,” said Fire Marshal Amy Flieg. “Everyone thinks it’s the flames that get you. Smoke gets you long before then, and it’s amazing what just a door will do to stop the spread of the smoke and then the heat and the flames behind it.”
A notice was sent to the students after the fire by Finmore saying the fire suppression system had been temporarily drained but has been restored. Channel 9 reached out to Boone Fire to learn exactly when that happened.
The damage is estimated at $100,000.
Dangers of lithium-ion batteries
Boone Fire will release safety information regarding lithium-ion batteries following the fire.
The department will distribute messaging through the press and social media to highlight the dangers of improperly maintained batteries.
Officials have partnered with commercial and residential property managers to provide safety materials to tenants. While lithium-ion batteries power many everyday devices, they can become dangerous if they are not cared for correctly.
Fire officials specifically warned against storing larger mobility devices in exit paths. These items include e-bikes, scooters and electric skateboards.
A battery malfunction or fire in these areas can block the only available path for residents to escape a building during an emergency.
In the recent fire involving a lithium-ion device, the unit was stored away from the exit door. Boone Fire officials noted that this storage location prevented the fire from blocking the exit during the incident.
The investigation into the recent fire is ongoing. Boone Fire officials stated that further action is pending.
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