Camera Catches Cause of Brick House Fire, Linked to Battery-Powered Cleaner

A Laurelton Fire Company truck. (Credit: Brick Fire)

A fire that broke out on the deck of a Brick Township residence and was doused by firefighters before being able to expand and consume the home was linked by security camera to a device powered by a lithium battery.

Brick fire officials described the incident that played out June 13 on Carol Fox Road in the Midstreams section. The blaze was sparked in the middle of the night, at about 2:45 a.m., the fire bureau said in a statement. The occupants of the home were alerted by a neighbor, who called 911 to report the fire.

AfternLaurelton Fire Company Chief Paul Mazzeo was first on location and established command, he reported smoke coming from the rear of the residence upon arrival. Crews arrived on scene quickly and extinguished the fire, minimizing damage to the residence. The damage was contained to the rear deck, rear siding of the residence and minor damage to vehicles parked in close proximity to the fire. No injuries were reported.

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After extinguishing the fire, the Bureau of Fire Safety arrived to determine the cause. Assistant Fire Marshal Robert Kurilla responded to the scene, discovering that the cause of the fire was captured on an exterior video system. Video images provided evidence of a lithium-ion battery operated pool vacuum malfunctioning and creating sparks, which ignited the composite decking, the statement said. The unit was described as a Wybot Robotic Pool cleaner and was not plugged in at the time.

“The Brick Bureau of Fire Safety reminds you the cause of lithium-ion fires varies from overcharging, overheating, physical damage or defects of the battery itself as well as its components,” the statement said. “Inspecting products that utilize lithium-ion batteries is essential and should be conducted on a regular basis. Noticing if a device is hot to the touch, inspecting the battery pack for swelling or bulging, and looking for any type of leakage from the battery unit are signs that there is a higher risk of an issue and hazard.”