Global Courant 2023-04-14 07:15:29
An e-scooter is blamed for a house fire in a small Maryland town that displaced 12 people and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.
Firefighters responded to the blaze Thursday in Derwood, Maryland — about a 40-minute drive north of Washington, D.C.
About 65 firefighters arrived on the scene. (Pete Piringer/@mcfrsPIO)
Firefighters encountered “heavy fire” in an occupied townhouse in the middle of the row, said Pete Piringer, a spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service.
Residents of the home where the fire started and nearby residents were alerted by smoke detectors and left their homes unharmed, Piringer said.
CREWS BATTLE FOR THE SECOND DAY IN THE INDIANA RECYCLING FIRE
A total of 12 people were displaced, including seven adults and five children. At least 65 firefighters were on site to fight the flames.
The family next to the house where the fire came from has also fled, says the fire service. (Pete Piringer/@mcfrsPIO)
A preliminary investigation into the origin of the fire found that a charging e-scooter in the basement of the home set fire to nearby combustibles. Total damage was estimated at about $650,000.
Damage from the fire is estimated at about $650,000. (Pete Piringer/@mcfrsPIO)
Lithium-ion battery E-scooters have been blamed for a spate of fires in recent months. In January, an e-scooter was blamed for a fire at a New York City home that houses a daycare center and dental lab, injuring 18 children.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In New York City alone this year there are five fire deaths, where officials have said the cause of the fire was an e-bike, out of nearly 60 total e-bike-related fires in 2023. Last year there were there are six e-bike-related fatalities in the city.
The Associated Press and Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues and much more.
