A child’s car seat spontaneously burst into flames moments after the entire family left the minivan and entered their home.
The fire was noticed by a neighbor who saw smoke coming from the minivan after the family returned home from church in North Carolina on Sunday.
A family member used a garden hose to extinguish the flames. No one was in the car at the time and there were no injuries.
But images from the scene show how the fire had completely melted the child’s plastic seat and the leather car seat.
Investigators have now revealed that the surprising reason for the sudden fire was the overheating of the small lithium battery inside the children’s book.
A child’s car seat spontaneously caught fire moments after the entire family entered their home after returning from church in North Carolina on Sunday.
Images from the scene show how the fire had completely melted the child’s plastic seat and the leather car seat.
The fire department determined that it was a ‘button battery’ inside a book that had been under the seat, which caused the fire.
The George Hildebran Fire and Rescue Department arrived on scene and determined that it was the “button battery” inside the book that was under the seat that caused the fire.
Fire Chief Bobby Craig told a news source Global Information Society‘The world itself is moving to lithium batteries, which pose some of these problems for firefighters.
“I don’t know if there are any precautions to take, other than trying to keep them cool.”
The fire department has decided to keep the car seat for training purposes to show the danger of lithium batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries, particularly poor quality ones, are susceptible to thermal runaway events, which occur when the temperature in lithium-ion batteries increases faster than energy can be dispersed to its surroundings.
The high temperature causes the battery to decompose, generating more heat and ultimately causing a flammable gas explosion.
A family member used a garden hose to put out the flames, but not before the seat was reduced to a smoldering ruin.
There was no one in the car at the time and there were no injuries.
They are found in many household products, including mobile phones, laptops, tablets, electric scooters, electric bicycles and power tools.
The recent surge in lithium-ion battery use has wreaked havoc on several industries, including waste companies, with garbage and recycling trucks causing fires by crushing improperly disposed batteries.
Several social media users posted messages expressing alarm over the incident in North Carolina.
Kevin Stamey wrote: “That’s scary, folks. Do you know how many kids’ toys have those batteries? Think about it.”
Vickie Smith said: “It’s scary! A lot of children’s toys and books have batteries in them. I’m so glad the child wasn’t hurt.”
Faith Vankley commented: “Thank God the child didn’t burn – that’s something to look into! How horrible!”
The book, Cocomelon JJ’s Potty Time, was written and published by Cottage Door Press, which describes itself as producing “high-quality children’s books.”
MailOnline has contacted Cottage Door Press regarding the incident.
