Electronics are being blamed for starting a house fire yesterday (May 13th).
The Appleton Fire Department was called to the 3000 block of South Chain Drive at around 2:45 p.m. on a report of a structure fire.
The caller reported that a battery had caught fire in the living room, which is where the firefighters found the smoke and flames upon their arrival.
It took crews just ten minutes to extinguish the flames.
The family was able to evacuate before they suffered any injuries, but they were displaced.
The fire caused an estimated $50,000 in damage, but it could have been worse, as the building’s fire alarm system was sounding properly.
The Appleton Fire Department is reminding residents that “lithium-ion batteries should always be used, charged, and stored according to manufacturer instructions. Damaged, swollen, overheating, or improperly charged batteries can pose a serious fire risk.”
