Rechargeable battery starts fire at home in Southeast Austin

By FOX 7 Austin Digital Team

Published February 13, 2024 12:04pm CST

Southeast Austin

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(Austin Fire Department)

AUSTIN, Texas - Austin firefighters responded to a fire in Southeast Austin Tuesday morning.

AFD says there was a fire in a rechargeable battery pack in a home in the 2300 block of Valley High Circle.

Firefighters put the fire out, then crews worked to clear the remaining smoke in the home.

This is not the first fire in Austin caused by rechargeable batteries. In November 2023, an electric bike battery sparked a house fire in Central Austin.

Safely store, charge lithium-ion batteries

A power source that has become a household item is raising alarms. AFD is warning people about fires sparked by lithium-ion batteries. 7 On Your Side Reporter Carissa Lehmkuhl has the details.

For more information on how to safely store and charge lithium-ion batteries, click here.