Lincoln firefighters douse two blazes

In the mid-afternoon on Tuesday, Nov. 18, Lincoln police and fire began getting reports of a car fire on Round Hill Road. Lincoln firefighters responded with Engine 2 and, on arrival, found the car fully involved, with the fire rapidly spreading to the house.

The four members of the duty crew went to work extinguishing both the house and car. The fires were rapidly brought under control, keeping damage to the house to a minimum. All residents are accounted for with no injuries reported.

The Weston, Wayland, and Concord Fire Departments helped on scene, while Sudbury and Waltham covered Lincoln. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

On Friday, Nov. 14, Lincoln firefighters responded to Concord Road for a report of an outside fire. On arrival, they found that the fire had started when a charging lithium ion battery was accidentally placed on a wood stove, causing it to overheat and catch fire. The resident who reported the fire picked it up, carried it outside, and threw it off the deck. Just as a hose was being deployed, the battery exploded and “embers and sparks blew in all directions,” according to the department’s report. The fire was quickly extinguished. The resident had facial burns but declined transport to the hospital.

When used properly, lithium ion devices are safe, but Fire Chief Brian Young offers these tips:

• Try to use battery-powered devices and replacement batteries that are known brands that also have a UL listing. This will make sure the batteries were properly engineered and have passed safety checks.
• Use only manufacturers’ recommended parts and batteries.
• Follow safe charging instructions, including using the correct charging devices on hard, flat locations away from heat sources.
• If a battery is damaged, discard it. A damaged battery cell could cause possible thermal runaway.