Firefighters in North Carolina are cautioning parents after a children’s book containing a button battery caused a minivan fire. The incident underscores the potential hazards posed by such batteries, especially when found in children’s products.
The George Hildebran Fire & Rescue Department reported that on Sunday, a child car seat caught fire soon after the child exited the car in Burke County, approximately 70 miles northwest of Charlotte. After extinguishing the flames, the Fire Marshal’s Office determined that a “button battery” inside a children’s book left under the seat was the source of the fire, according to a Facebook post from the department.
The aftermath of a car fire after a children’s book containing a button battery ignited a car seat.
Photographs of the damage showed that a significant portion of the car seat’s bottom was burned, with the padding and some plastic melted. While the department shared a cover image of a sound-producing Cocomelon book titled, “JJ’s Potty Time,” the exact book responsible for the fire remains unconfirmed.
Destiny Williams told WSOC-TV that her family had just returned from church on Sunday and had been inside for around 20 minutes when the fire erupted. Her daughter, Misty, had been in the car seat earlier. “This is crazy but thank God for protecting her,” Williams said. Misty’s father, Pressley Williams, added, “When the fire marshal came and confirmed it was from a lithium battery from a child’s book, I was honestly shocked and surprised.” He noted that the book lacked a warning label and that they have contacted the company to seek compensation for the damages, but without success. They hope other families learn from their experience.
The U.S. Fire Administration advises that lithium-ion batteries should be kept away from direct sunlight or hot cars and ideally stored at room temperature to prevent hazards.
