St. Petersburg homeowner loses garage and vintage items after lithium-ion battery fire

St. Pete Fire Rescue attributed a residential fire in St. Petersburg to a lithium-ion battery. The incident occurred in the garage of a 1930s home on Tuesday, October 27, around 9 a.m. Firefighters stated that the fire began in the corner of the garage structure. While they identified the energy source, investigators have not yet determined which specific battery or device triggered the ignition.

Rae Zabell, the homeowner, received a call from a neighbor while dropping her son off at school. She returned to find flames consuming the rear of the house. Zabell noted that the front of the home appeared intact from the street, but the back was completely destroyed. She stated, "From the front of the house, it looks like nothing's wrong, but the back of the house is completely gone." Zabell added that the family renovated the entire property themselves, investing significant care into the restoration.

Zabell reported that her cat was inside during the fire and was successfully rescued. She explained that she stored several power tool batteries from different brands and a remote-controlled car in the garage. All items were uncharged and not plugged in at the time of the incident. Zabell said, "We had several power tool batteries, so couple different brands and we also had a remote controlled car. Nothing was plugged in."

The fire damaged all contents inside the home, leaving a pervasive smoke smell. The family also lost a truck they had purchased recently. Zabell highlighted the loss of irreplaceable items, including vintage clothing, home decor, and family memorabilia. She said, "Unfortunately, the things that can’t be replaced, you know, things I’ve collected over the years.. just can’t be replaced." A GoFundMe page has been established to help the family with reconstruction costs and expenses not covered by insurance.

St. Pete Fire Rescue posted safety guidelines regarding lithium-ion batteries on Instagram following the event. Recommendations include using only the manufacturer's recommended charger. Firefighters advised charging devices on a hard, flat surface away from beds, couches, and other flammable materials. They also instructed residents to keep batteries away from extreme heat and direct sunlight. Additionally, officials warned against disposing of lithium-ion batteries in household trash or regular recycling bins.