By John Kriz
There was a house fire in Weston last month, caused by an improperly charged lithium ion battery, according to John Pokorny, Weston’s Fire Chief and Fire Marshal (and Deputy Fire Marshal in New Canaan).
No one was hurt, but the fire “did a lot of damage,” according to Chief Pokorny.
The cause of the fire was a large lithium ion battery that was being charged longer than recommended, and with an incorrect charging device.
A feature article in the New Canaan Sentinel in early April https://www.newcanaansentinel.com/2026/04/10/lithium-ion-batteries-can-be-dangerous/ outlines some of the risks of lithium ion batteries. These warnings included the dangers of overcharging, and using the wrong charging cord.
The homeowner had used “an aftermarket charger that may not have been the right voltage and amperage,” said Chief Pokorny. “And when we looked at the operator instructions for the device, it was only supposed to be charged for up to five hours and it had been charged for longer than that. So we believe that that’s what started the fire.”
As well, Chief Pokorny urged people to be cautious when purchasing replacement batteries. “If it’s a Schwinn bicycle, buy a Schwinn charger, buy a Schwinn replacement battery.”
The good news was that smoke “detectors were in the house, and alerted the resident that was in the house, who got out safely. And yeah, I can’t urge enough that working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in houses absolutely save lives.”
With more and more lithium ion batteries in everyone’s lives, safe usage has become increasingly important.
Lithium-ion battery fires involving e-bikes and consumer electronics have become a growing concern for first responders, transportation companies and the public.
Fires can occur on land, sea and in the air, are difficult to extinguish and can burn for hours or days while releasing dangerous fumes and gases.
