Crime & Safety

Garage Fire Extinguished In Portsmouth After Batteries Explode

Fire officials say the explosion of lithium batteries caused significant heat damage and smoke damage to the garage.

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Fire officials said the fire happened at a home on Union Street. Crews arrived and learned the explosion of lithium batteries caused significant heat damage and smoke damage to the garage.
Fire officials said the fire happened at a home on Union Street. Crews arrived and learned the explosion of lithium batteries caused significant heat damage and smoke damage to the garage. (Portsmouth Fire Department)

PORTSMOUTH, RI — Firefighters in Portsmouth extinguished a garage fire Thursday that was caused by batteries exploding.

Fire officials said the fire happened at a home on Union Street. Crews arrived and learned the explosion of lithium batteries caused significant heat damage and smoke damage to the garage.

"We would like to remind everyone that aftermarket batteries and chargers cause a significant risk of thermal runaway in batteries," fire officials said in a Facebook post. "Please only use batteries and chargers certified by the manufacturer."

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Middletown and Tiverton provided mutual aid in battling the garage fire.

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