Lacey house fire caused by charging e-bike

LACEY, Wash. - Firefighters extinguished a house fire in Lacey Thursday morning, and investigators believe that an electric bike caused the fire.

According to the Lacey Fire Department (LFD), the homeowner’s smoke alarms went off at around 4 a.m.

The family was able to safely evacuate the home with their pets.

The LFD says the fire originated in the garage and was likely caused by a charging e-bike.

No injuries were reported.

According to Consumer Reports, electronic bike sales are on the rise. Most of these bikes use lithium-ion batteries, which have been known to catch on fire.

In order to prevent a fire, experts recommend that e-bike owners always use the manufacturer’s cord and power adapter made specifically for the bike. Do not leave the e-bike unattended while it’s charging, and don’t leave it charging overnight. Additionally, if the batter starts to overheat or produce an odor, stop using it immediately.