Evacuation, injuries and challenges fighting lithium fires
Boston firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire at 860 Harrison Avenue Friday evening after an e-scooter battery ignited on the building’s 20th floor, forcing about 40 residents to evacuate and sending two people to the hospital with minor smoke-related injuries, city officials said.
Fire crews arrived around 5:45 p.m. and worked to reach the blaze by hauling hose lines up through the high-rise. The building’s sprinkler system activated and helped control the flames, but crews faced the complications associated with burning lithium-ion cells, which can reignite and are difficult to extinguish.
“It's new technology. We're still learning about their capabilities and how they react under fire conditions, and what we know so far is they're very dangerous when they do catch fire,”
Boston Fire Commissioner Brian Tully made the comment while describing the department’s response and the additional steps taken to secure the scene.
After extinguishing the fire, crews placed the damaged scooter in a bathtub to reduce the risk of reignition. Hazmat teams assisted in removing the burned scooter from the apartment, using containment barrels to transport the battery safely out of the building.
- Location: 860 Harrison Ave, Boston
- Time: Around 5:45 p.m., Friday
- Evacuated: Approximately 40 residents
- Injuries: Two people treated for minor smoke inhalation
- Cause: E-scooter lithium-ion battery fire (under investigation)
Local stakes and broader implications
The incident highlights growing risks for city residents as lithium-ion batteries power more consumer devices and micromobility vehicles. In dense, multi-story apartment buildings, a single battery malfunction can trigger sprinkler activation, rapid evacuations and complex firefighting operations that require extra personnel, water and hazmat resources.
Boston officials did not release additional details about the scooter’s ownership or status — whether it was charging, stored, or undergoing repairs — and said investigators were continuing to examine the scene. No further injuries were reported.
| Detail | Report |
|---|---|
| Alarm level | Two-alarm fire |
| Response actions | Hose lines hauled through building; sprinkler activation; hazmat containment barrels used |
| Containment step | Scooter placed in a bathtub post-extinguishment |
For Boston residents and landlords, the episode underscores the need to review building policies on the storage and charging of devices with lithium batteries, and for tenants to exercise caution. Fire officials have emphasized that these batteries can produce a chain reaction once they ignite, complicating suppression efforts and increasing the potential for property damage and injury.
Investigators from the Boston Fire Department and supporting hazmat teams remained on scene Friday night to complete their work and remove hazardous materials. Officials did not immediately release a timeline for residents to return to the affected units.
