Image: Agassiz Fire Department truck / File / Supplied

By Fraser Valley Today Staff

No Injuries

Failed battery charger leads to fire in Agassiz home

Dec 31, 2024 | 1:48 PM

AGASSIZ — Quick action by firefighters on Saturday (Dec. 28) afternoon minimized damage from a residential fire in the Harrison Highlands subdivision.

The Agassiz Fire Department responded to a call from the 1900 block of Peregrine Place after residents returned home to find their house filled with white smoke and smoke alarms sounding. Shortly after, the smoke turned black, prompting requests for mutual aid from the Popkum and Harrison Hot Springs fire departments.

Upon arrival, firefighters observed no visible signs of fire from the exterior of the three-story home. The residents confirmed that everyone, including several pets, had safely evacuated.

Fire crews entered the smoke-filled residence with zero visibility and quickly located and extinguished the fire, which was contained to a small portion of a bedroom. Their swift response prevented the fire from spreading further.

Emergency support services teams from Kent Harrison and Mission assisted the family, and alternate accommodations were arranged by the landlord to ensure the family and their pets were safely housed.

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A preliminary investigation determined the fire was sparked by a portable battery charging bank left charging on a bed. The battery pack failure ignited the bed and a nearby shelf. The bedroom door was closed at the time the fire broke out and helped limit the fire’s spread by depriving it of oxygen.

The Agassiz Fire Department expressed thanks to the assisting fire departments and emergency support teams for their collaboration.

“This incident highlights the importance of using caution when charging electronic devices,” the fire department said in a statement. “Always charge devices on a hard, non-flammable surface and avoid leaving them unattended.”

There were no injuries in the fire.