Grand Island house fire sparked by lithium-ion battery caused $40,000 in damage

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Firefighters battled a blaze caused by an overcharged battery at a Grand Island home on Tuesday, city officials say.

Around 8:30 a.m., crews from the Grand Island Fire Department were sent to a home near North Adams and West Ninth streets.

Crews arrived at the scene and found smoke coming from inside the home.

Firefighters found an active fire in the living room and extinguished the blaze in about five minutes, according to officials.

No one was injured.

The fire was deemed accidental, caused by a lithium-ion battery left on its charger for over three months that overheated.  The battery then exploded and ignited nearby items, the city said.

Investigators estimate the fire caused about $40,000 in damage.