Likely cause of Franklin house fire raises safety concerns surrounding lithium-ion batteries

The homeowners were not present when the fire began and two dogs inside perished.
A Williamson County neighborhood is counting blessings and checking their homes after a house fire Thursday night.
By Steve MehlingPublished: Apr. 26, 2024 at 6:33 PM CDTEmail This LinkShare on PinterestShare on LinkedIn

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WSMV) - Williamson County Fire and Rescue crews were called to a house fire in Franklin just after 8 p.m. Thursday.

Authorities say the cause of the fire is likely from lithium-ion batteries they found inside the home.

[PREVIOUS: Williamson County house fire likely started by lithium battery]

“I looked out and I saw just this whole street covered in ambulances, fire engines, cop cars,” Donne Petruska recalled. “All the neighbors were out.”

Petruska, who lives just down the street in the Abington Ridge subdivision, says everyone was working their way to the source of the commotion to find out what was wrong.

“When I walked up the street to the house, the flames were going above the tree line,” Petruska said. “It was a huge fire.”

Authorities say no one was hurt, neighbors said the owners were not home when the fire started. But two dogs were unfortunately inside, and died as a result.

When day broke on Friday, many came to the shell of a home to see how bad the damage was.

“It’s different when you see it in-person,” Petruska said. “It definitely is intimidating. It was shocking to see the aftermath, to see it gutted this way.”

Authorities say early signs lead to lithium-ion batteries as the cause. According to the U.S. Product Safety Commission, there were at least 25,000 incidents of fires or overheating in a recent five-year period with these battery types.

“The first thing all of us are thinking is: we have lithium-ion batteries and things and what made it explode? What made it malfunction? So, we’re wanting to find out what actually caused it because everybody, you know you see something like this, and you’re like, ‘I don’t want that top happen to me,’” Petruska said. “I’ve certainly never seen anything like this before.”

The battery types are common in any household. You can find them in most laptops, phones, tablets, power tools, etc.

How can you hopefully prevent a fire from starting from your batteries?

Here’s a couple things to look out for if you own these battery types:

“I’m scared. I want to go there [her home] and find where are the batteries, what is a lithium-ion battery, and get it out of my house,” Petruska said. “Because that was not a small fire, that was huge.”

Fire officials say although the cause is likely determined, the incident remains under investigation.

Most Read

Warrant has been issued for Frerking on theft of deception out of Roswell, GA.
Arrest warrant issued for former University of Tennessee football player and Nashville resident
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Ground Delay issued at Nashville airport
Camp Mystic camper Mary Steele Gant (middle), poses with the camp's director, now identified...
Tennessee girl survives deadly flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas
10-year-old boy dies after being hit by tanker truck while riding minibike in Nashville
10-year-old boy riding minibike dies after crashing into tanker truck in Nashville
Tanger Outlets Nashville will hold a grand opening on Oct. 27.
Toddler left alone in truck at Tanger Outlets during 90-degree heat
Franklin business evacuated after fire
Franklin restaurant significantly damaged after fire
A few powerful thunderstorms are possible this afternoon, producing localized flooding and...
First Alert Weather Day: Thunderstorms could produce flooding, strong wind gusts this afternoon
Woman facing charges after two-vehicle wreck in Maury County
Woman facing charges after two-vehicle wreck in Maury County

Latest News

Marius and Tracy share late-breaking details from the TX floods, the number killed and...
WSMV PLUS 10PM PREVIEW SHOW
Mount Zion Baptist Church prays over business owner after fire
Nashville community rallies around business after fire destroys building
FILE - Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam performs during BottleRock Napa Valley on Saturday, May 25,...
Longtime Pearl Jam member announces he is stepping down from the band
Community members are offering support for Minerva Avenue, a few days after the business...
Owners believe fireworks caused bar fire
Dsiyahn Whitmore
‘He was the light in so many people’s lives.’ Family left looking for answers after boy killed in minibike crash
An outgoing student at Nashville Northeast Elementary, Dsiyahn Whitmore’s older sister, says...
Child dies after crashing minibike into truck
This courtroom sketch depicts Kilmar Abrego Garcia sitting in court during his detention...
Kilmar Abrego Garcia faces immediate deportation upon his release from criminal custody in TN, government lawyers say
A federal judge in Maryland on Monday heard arguments over whether Kilmar Abrego Garcia should...
Hearing held for Kilmar Abrego Garcia in Maryland