Cause released after heavy fire displaces family at Fall River apartment complex

The Fall River Fire Department extinguished a type of blaze Thursday that they are seeing more and more frequently.

According to Captain Raymond Schofield, the FRFD responded just after 7:00 p.m. to a still alarm for a “battery charger that had exploded” in an apartment at 4980 North Main Street.

Engine 2, 6, 12, Platform 1-A, Ladder 4, Heavy Rescue 1, and Car 2 were the apparatus that were dispatched to the scene.

Upon arrival of Engine 6, it was reported that there was heavy fire showing from the 2^nd floor window of a multiple occupancy building (appx 40 units). Multiple attack lines were deployed to the front of the building and the crews advanced to the main fire room and to the floor above the fire room.

A search of the building was conducted, and no civilians were located (they had all escaped with their pets prior to arrival of the FRFD).

The fire was quickly extinguished, and overhaul was performed, along with looking for any extension of the fire. 

The amount estimated for total property and contents loss was $75,000.

FRFD was clear of the scene at 9:16 p.m.

The apartment is reportedly a total loss.

Schofield noted that this is a rising issue with lithium-ion batteries as they are being used in devices at a much higher rate than ever before. The FRFD has recently put out an SOP regarding this issue and was followed in this incident with the overpacking of the damaged batteries in a 5- gal steel pail with CellBlockEX overpacking.