NW Bend house fire traced to failed electric bike battery

A fire that caused $220,000 in damage at a northwest Bend home early Thursday, forcing residents to flee and neighbors to evacuated, was traced to a failed lithium battery on an electric bike being charged in the garage, investigators said.

Firefighters were called shortly after midnight to the two-story home at 2467 NW Second Street by the homeowner, Sterling McCord, who told dispatchers his garage was on fire, said Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki. His family was able to evacuate before fire crews arrived, thanks to their smoke alarms alerting them to the blaze.

He “went into his garage … and saw the bike on fire,” Derlacki said in a news release.

Crews were able to quickly stop the fire’s spread, Derlacki said, but it took several hours to fully extinguish due to the home’s natural gas meter catching fire below the shut-off valve. Derlacki said a Cascade Natural Gas crew had to dig up the gas line and clamp it off.

Losses were estimated at $100,000 to the home, $50,000 to its contents and $70,000 to vehicles.

The two-story home was built in 2000, according to Deschutes County property tax records.

The first police officers on scene saw heavy flames and reportedly heard items exploding inside the house, possibly from ammunition.

Bend Fire medics reportedly treated and took a burn victim to St. Charles Bend.

Some nearby residents were evacuated or told to stay inside due to heavy smoke pouring from the home. One neighbor who shares a driveway with the burning home was kept out for some time as the fire spread to the home’s attic.

The fire fight involved over a dozen personnel quickly depleted Bend Fire Department resources, prompting a mutual-aid call to Redmond and Sunriver for medics to help cover the district and respond to calls.

Pacific Power crews were called in, as a line was reported down near the home — but cutting power to it also blacked out about a half-dozen homes in the neighborhood, Derlacki said.

The fire was reported controlled by 1:20 a.m., more than an hour after it was reported.

The American Red Cross was called in and on scene to assist the displaced residents.

The cause of the fire was determined to be a lithium battery in an electric bike failing while being charged, Derlacki said.

While electric bikes themselves are safe, the recharging process can be a hazard for issues ranging from over-charging, damage to the battery, short-circuits or use of the wrong-voltage charger.

Lithium metal batteries, found in electric cars, are less prone to such fires, the fire official said, but those batteries don’t have the capacity density lithium ion batteries do.

Derlacki offered a list of safety tips for charging your lithium ion batteries, whether it be in bikes, remote control cars, laptops or other battery operated devices:

–Don’t leave the battery in the charger once it is fully charged. The battery charger will flash on and off with a red indicator light every 20 seconds when the battery is fully charged. Overcharging the batteries will not increase the performance and could lead to damage.

–Never charge with an unspecified charger or specified charger that has been modified. This can cause breakdown of the battery or swelling and rupturing.

–Ensure the charger you are using is the correct voltage and amperage for the battery you are charging. Over charging with too much voltage can cause the battery to overheat and lead to a fire.

–Never attempt to charge a battery which has been physically damaged.

–Do not use a battery in an appliance or purpose for which it was not intended.

–Never disassemble a battery as the materials inside may be toxic and may damage skin and clothes.

–DO NOT place a battery in fire; this may cause the battery to rupture. The electrolyte is very flammable and if an ignition source exists, then fire and even an explosion could result.

–NEVER place batteries in water, as this may cause the battery to rupture and release poisonous gasses.