Watch: e-bike Battery Sparks House Fire in Troutdale, OR
A surveillance camera captured an e-bike battery exploding and igniting a house fire in Troutdale.
The six residents escaped without injury, but a cat perished as flames erupted and destroyed the house.
The battery was resting unplugged on a padded chair when it began smoking, popping and emitting a foul odor, Preston Williams, 15. told KGW.
"It smelled like something died, I couldn't figure out what it was."
He had been riding the bike earlier in the day.
Firefighters across the state responded to 649 lithium-ion battery-related fires between 2020 and 2025, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshal who noted that the number of incidents increased by an average of 19% annually during that period.
Lithium-ion batteries have been linked to a number of deadly fires recently including one in May that killed Boston Firefighter Robert 'Bobby' Kilduff.
About the Author
Susan NicolSusan Nicol
News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.
