Samsung Battery Cause Of Apartment Fire: Report

OAK CREEK, WI -- Fire investigators in Oak Creek say a fire in the Oak Leaf Condos was caused by an overheated cell phone.

According to Oak Creek police reports, officers and fire department personnel were dispatched to the condos on 200 W. Aspen Ct. just before 1 p.m. on Jan. 18 on a report of the fire.

Reports stated that an apartment resident called authorities stating that she could smell smoke in the building and that a haze of smoke was present in the building as well.

When emergency responders arrived, they reportedly had to break down the door of the unit where the smoke was coming from, according to reports.

Reports stated that when firefighters entered the unit, they saw that the sprinkler system had been activated. They also saw a cell phone sitting on the carpet that appeared to be fire-damaged along with burnt carpet on the floor.

When police made contact with the apartment resident where the fire took place, the resident said he left for work at 7 a.m. that day and had his old Samsung Galaxy S5 cell phone plugged into a power outlet to charge.

According to reports, investigators said it appeared the fire was caused by the cell phone heating up.

Patch File Photo by Scott Anderson