Downtown Spokane apartment fire displaces 50 residents

An e-bike battery ignited Saturday morning inside a downtown building operated by Catholic Charities. The fire displaced 50 apartment residents. After extinguishing it, Spokane fire crews underwent decontamination because they had been exposed during the response.

Lithium-ion batteries can become dangerous rapidly when they overheat or fail. Justin de Ruyter, Spokane Fire Department public information officer, said fires frequently occur while batteries are charging, particularly when aftermarket batteries or chargers are involved. Smoke and an odor may signal a malfunction. Although a fire extinguisher may be used, residents should quickly leave to avoid airborne toxic metals. SFD recommends closing doors while exiting to contain the fire, creating distance and notifying firefighters promptly.

SFD advises against leaving batteries to charge without supervision and recommends charging them outdoors so a fire does not begin inside a home or other building. Owners should also track battery age and avoid aftermarket batteries and charging equipment. The typical replacement window for a lithium-ion battery is 7-10 years. Following Saturday’s fire, the Department of Health checked the Catholic Charities building for toxic odors before residents could return.