Garage Fire Caused by Lithium-Ion Battery

A fire that destroyed a garage and damaged nearby structures this week was likely caused by a lithium-ion battery, Crawfordsville Fire Department officials report.

On Tuesday evening, CFD responded to a structure fire in the 600 block of East Wabash Avenue a little after 7:30. Upon arrival, crews found a fully involved detached garage located behind a residence. The fire had begun to spread to the home and was threatening three nearby structures.

Firefighters initiated a coordinated response on three fronts, including a defensive attack on the garage, a defensive operation to protect adjacent structures and an offensive interior attack within the residence. Everything was under control within an hour.

All occupants had safely evacuated prior to firefighters’ arrival. Crews were also able to safely retrieve pets from the residence and return them to the homeowners. No injuries were reported among civilians, firefighters or pets.

The detached garage is considered a total loss. The residence and nearby structures sustained varying degrees of fire damage. A preliminary investigation conducted by the Crawfordsville Fire Department determined the fire was unintentional and likely caused by thermal runaway from a lithium-ion battery that was being charged inside the garage.

East Wabash Avenue was closed during the incident and reopened after crews cleared the scene at approximately 10 p.m.

Assisting agencies included the Crawfordsville Police Department, Montgomery County Central Communications Center, Crawfordsville Electric Light & Power, Indiana American Water Company and CenterPoint Energy.