Naples, January 23 – One person was injured after a house fire erupted in East Naples early Thursday morning. The blaze, which authorities believe was sparked by an e-bike charger, completely destroyed the home on Palm Street.
Emergency Response and Injuries
Fire crews were dispatched to the residence shortly after 1 a.m. Upon arrival, they found the house engulfed in flames. Firefighters successfully extinguished the fire, but one individual, who did not reside in the main house but in a separate unit behind it, sustained injuries while attempting to put out the fire. The injured person was transported to the hospital and is expected to recover.
Family’s Narrow Escape
The family renting the home, including Nevaeh Presley, narrowly escaped the inferno with their dogs. Presley recounted the terrifying moments: “I kind of opened the door, and I saw the flames go poof. I shut the door, because I didn’t know where it was going to go.” She described her stepfather, Corey, screaming her name, urging her to grab the dogs and flee. “So I quickly, no shoes, nothing, grabbed my puppy and put my big dog on the leash and ran out. It was just out of control at that point,” Presley stated.
Cause of the Fire: E-Bike Charger
The Greater Naples Fire Rescue District (GNFRD) has indicated that the preliminary cause of the fire is believed to be an e-bike charger, pending further investigation. Occupants inside the house reported hearing the e-bike charger explode before the fire rapidly spread.
Safety Reminders for Lithium-Ion Batteries
This incident serves as a critical reminder from the fire district to exercise caution when charging lithium-ion batteries. Jacob Garard, from “The Bike Route” in Naples, emphasized the importance of using only approved chargers. He warned, “If you mix and match, there’s a chance that something’s not the proper rating, and then you can end up having something where something sorts out, something sparks, something catches on fire.”
Garard also advised against overnight charging and stressed the need to keep devices away from combustible materials. He explained that while some chargers cut off when a device is fully charged, others do not, leading to an oversupply of power that can cause sparking and fires. “When it comes to a full charge, it will cut off. But if you do have one that does not cut off, then it will be putting extra power into the bike. And that’s when you run into issues with fires and things sparking,” he added.
Aftermath and Assistance
GNFRD confirmed that the house is a total loss. The Red Cross is currently providing assistance to the displaced family. Fortunately, no other injuries to people or pets were reported.
This destructive fire underscores the potential dangers associated with improper charging of e-bike batteries and highlights the importance of adhering to safety guidelines to prevent similar tragedies.
Source: https://www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com/article/injury-house-fire-east-naples-palm-street/70087819
