Fire officials say improper battery storage can spark costly fires even when devices aren’t charging
A shed fire in Fort Collins last week that caused more than $30,000 in damage was likely sparked by lithium-ion batteries, according to the Poudre Fire Authority.
The fire broke out in the 3200 block of Fairplay Court, where investigators determined flames originated on a workbench inside a shed containing two lithium-ion batteries. Fire officials explained that while the cause cannot be definitively confirmed, burn patterns and evidence indicate the batteries are the most probable ignition source.
Fire investigators spent hours carefully removing layers of debris from the scene. Their findings showed the fire burned through the shed’s bench and floor, allowing fresh air to feed the flames and intensify them rapidly. By the time crews arrived, the shed was fully involved, with fire spreading to nearby fencing and a tree…