Onset Fire That Destroyed Businesses Caused by Lithium-Ion Batteries

ONSET (WBSM) — The cause of a fire that destroyed a hobby shop and an antique shop in the Onset section of Wareham on Sunday has been determined.

According to Onset Fire Chief Jeffrey R. Osswald and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Devine, the fire that damaged Wreckless Hobbies, Not Your Average Antiques and the nearby Rent-a-Center store most likely started with lithium-ion batteries.

“Lithium-ion batteries power many of the devices we use every day,” Chief Osswald said. “The fire damage and heavy, toxic smoke from this incident demonstrate just how serious we all have to be about battery safety.”

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Onset Fire Rescued responded to 3086 Cranberry Highway at about 11:40 a.m. on January 5 for an alarm activation and 911 call reporting a fire in the building.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the building. They were able to enter and began to attack “significant fire,” according to the officials, in two of the businesses.

The fire eventually went to four alarms, bringing in fire crews from nearby communities such as the fire departments from Wareham, Marion, Bourne, Plymouth, Middleboro and Carver, with Sandwich and Plymouth providing station coverage. Wareham EMS and Wareham Police also assisted.

One firefighter was transported to an area hospital and released the same day.

“As they brought the fire under control, firefighters became aware of hundreds of lithium-ion batteries at the primary fire scene, including batteries that reignited during overhaul,” the fire officials said. “They requested a Tier 1 Hazmat response to assist in mitigating this hazard, and state Hazmat technicians carefully loaded the remaining batteries into dumpsters layered with sand for safe removal.”

Through surveillance video and other means, investigators determined that the fire started accidentally in the front left corner of the store by the failure of a lithium-ion battery.

Unfortunately, lithium-ion batteries have caused numerous fires across the Commonwealth.

“About 135 lithium-ion battery fires were reported in Massachusetts last year, and we believe the true number is even higher,” State Fire Marshal Davine said. “When these batteries are abused, overcharged, overheated, or defective, they can fail rapidly and violently in a fire or explosion that also releases toxic, flammable gases.”