Small fire starts at southwest Columbia home after lithium-ion battery from wheelchair ‘explodes’

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Firefighters were at a home in southwest Columbia on Friday night in the 4100 block of Grant Lane after a lithium-ion battery from an electric wheelchair exploded.

Joey Simmons, of the Columbia Fire Department, told ABC 17 News at the scene that one person was inspected for smoke inhalation. Simmons said a small fire was started near the entryway of the home and firefighters were able to quickly extinguish it.

CFD spokeswoman Katherine Rodriguez told ABC 17 News in an email the fire started after a lithium-ion battery from an electric wheelchair that exploded within the home. The wheelchair had significant damage, but the fire did not spread to the rest of the home.

There were two Columbia firetrucks, as well as two additional Columbia Fire Department vehicles at the scene.