Family, Pets Safe In Garage Fire, Electric Scooter Battery Determined As Possible Cause: NL Fire

NEW LENOX, IL — A New Lenox family and their pets are safe after a garage fire was put out before it reached the home's living area Friday, fire officials said.

The New Lenox Fire Protection District successfully extinguished a structure fire in the 800 block of Somerset, before it could spread, fire officials said.

The NLFPD was dispatched at 11:46 a.m. for a reported structure fire. The first arriving engine company reached the scene in five minutes and reported a working fire within the attached garage. Firefighters transitioned quickly to an active fire attack, deploying a single hose line and bringing the incident under control within 15 minutes.

The family and their dogs were able to evacuate the home safely on their own; however, the homeowners’ cats remained inside the structure. Firefighters successfully located and rescued the cats from the residence, reuniting them safely with their owners. No injuries to residents, pets, or fire personnel were reported.

While the garage sustained significant damage, fire crews were able to limit the impact on the rest of the structure. The interior of the home sustained some smoke damage, but the fire did not breach the main living area.

Preliminary reports suggest the fire may have originated from a lithium-ion battery on an electric scooter located within the garage, fire officials said. While the official cause remains under investigation, fire officials are using this incident as a reminder to the community regarding the potential hazards associated with charging lithium-ion batteries.

The NLFPD was supported by multiple neighboring fire agencies that assisted on the scene and provided station coverage, ensuring that emergency service remained uninterrupted for the rest of the community during the incident.

For more information on lithium-ion battery safety and how to properly charge and store micromobility devices, please visit nlfire.com.