A massive fire that destroyed part of a building that housed the Couer D’Alene Police Department’s IT department, the Animal Control unit, and several vehicles, has been blamed on an electric bike battery. The incident happened earlier this month and highlights the ever-present dangers in EV batteries, despite improvements over the years.
There are many stories relating to e-bike battery fires and a common index of the degree of destruction is that they are worse when left unattended. The Couer D’Alene Police Department’s fire in Idaho significantly damaged the building and vehicles parked in the garage. Instructively, the Couer D’Alene Fire Department was a next-door neighbor, they had a tough time battling with the fire before effectively putting it out. It took 30 firefighters to bring the inferno under control.
Remarkably, according to news reports of the incident, there were no casualties or injuries to persons during the blaze. The Police Department however lost several vehicles to the fire including a SWAT car, an incident command trailer, and all its motorcycles and e-bikes. Initially, it was unclear what the cause of the fire was, as an investigation of the incident has commenced. However, after preliminary investigations, the Idaho State Fire Marshals discovered that one of the batteries on an e-bike recently purchased by the Police Department suffered a ‘catastrophic failure’. The bike was being recharged properly. The fire is being ruled as an accident and a complete forensic analysis of the incident is under consideration.
The Couer D’Alene, Idaho incident highlights the risks inherent during the charging of electric bikes, scooters, and other electric mobility vehicles. It underscores the need for caution and close monitoring whenever such vehicles are being recharged.
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