LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. (7News) — Five people and a dog were displaced after a house fire in Sterling, Virginia, caused by a lithium-ion battery, according to the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System.
Fire investigators said the blaze, reported around 2:20 p.m. Saturday, April 4, in the 46700 block of Fairgrove Square, was accidental and stemmed from an electrical event involving a lithium-ion battery charging in a second-floor room.
Damage is estimated at $320,000, officials said.
Crews arrived to find smoke coming from the rear of a two-story townhome and quickly brought the fire under control.
No one was hurt in connection with the fire.
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Fire officials said working smoke alarms warned the family, allowing everyone to escape safely.
The American Red Cross is assisting the family.
The fire-rescue system is reminding residents to use lithium-ion batteries with caution, noting they can ignite or explode if damaged or improperly charged.
