Lithium-ion battery caused Loudoun Co. house fire, nearly $ 1M in damage

The Loudoun County firefighter determined a defective lithium-ion battery in a remote-controlled car started a fire in Aldie, Virginia, on Friday that left a family of four displaced and causing nearly $ 1 million in damage.

The flames started at about 7 a.m. in the 25,000-block block of Trilobite Court.

Fire and rescue crews from Kirkpatrick Farms, Dulles South, Aldie, Brambleton, Moorefield, Sterling and Fairfax County were dispatched. One person suffered minor injuries and about $ 958,000 of damage was caused, the fire department said.

Lithium-ion batteries power many everyday devices, including smartphones, laptops, scooters, toys, even cars.

Care must be taken when using them to prevent a fire or explosion, according to authorities.

Stop using batteries immediately if you notice an odor, color change, excessive heat or a change in shape, leaks or odd noises.

If or when it is safe, move the batteries away from anything that may catch fire and call 911.

Additional safety tips include:

• Purchase and use devices listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Use only the battery designed for the device.
• Insert batteries correctly.
• Use only the charging cable that came with the device.
• Do not load a device under your pillows, on your bed or on a couch.
• Keep batteries at room temperature. Do not place batteries in direct sunlight or store them in hot cars.
• Keep batteries away from anything that may catch fire.

A map of where the fire happened is below.

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