By Grace Zokovitch
Boston Herald
BOSTON — Lithium-ion batteries stored in a third-floor enclosed porch in Dorchester sparked the blaze that killed firefighter Robert “Bobby” Kilduff Jr. in May.
Boston Fire officials said an investigation released Wednesday points to a “thermal runaway” ignited by those batteries.
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“Bobby Kilduff gave his life in the line of duty, doing what our firefighters do every day, putting themselves in harm’s way to protect their neighbors in our community,” said Mayor Michelle Wu at Boston Fire headquarters.
“He made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our city,” the mayor added, “and we’re continuing to work on several efforts to honor his legacy and support his family. And alongside that grief, we also have a responsibility to ensure that we understand exactly what happened at the fire and what we can learn from it.”
Kilduff, a 24-year veteran of the fire department and member of Rescue Company 2, died after falling through a window during the response to a three-alarm fire in a Dorchester triple-decker home last May. The Marine veteran and father of two was remembered as the hero of countless rescues and beloved by the force, friends and family.
Boston Fire officials announced Wednesday that an investigation into the cause of the Dorchester fire had been completed, finding that the blaze started in the third-floor enclosed porch. The fire was caused by “thermal runaway involving multiple lithium-ion batteries stored inside of plastic toolboxes,” said Boston Fire Department Commissioner Rodney Marshall.
Two additional investigations into Kilduff’s death remain ongoing, Marshall said, one by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and one by the Boston Fire Department’s Board of Inquiry.
“These investigations will examine all of the circumstances surrounding this tragedy,” Marshall said, noting findings will be made available as they are completed. … “However, today we want to emphasize the importance of lithium-ion battery safety.”
The batteries must be “charged, handled, and stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and established safety guidelines” in order to avoid serious fire hazards, the commissioner said.
“These batteries power so much of our daily lives, but also carry very serious risks,” said Wu. “And so we owe it to all of our community members to educate our residents about the dangers and how to prevent fires like this one.”
Lithium-ion battery safety
Many lithium-ion batteries can be found in most households, said Boston District Fire Chief Keith Kelly of the Special Operations Command, in devices like power tools, cell phones, vacuums and laptops.
As more and more batteries enter people’s households, there have been more and more fire accidents, Kelly said, meaning paying attention to proper handling is vital.
“Most lithium-ion battery incidents can be reduced through proper charging, routine inspections, and responsible storage,” Kelly said. “When you purchase and use these devices, you want to check that they are certified by a nationally recognized testing company, such as Underwriters Laboratory. You can look for the UL sticker on the device itself or on the packaging.”
Safety tips include always using the batteries for what they were manufactured for; using the charging cable that came with the battery; using the device on a hard, stable surface and not charging on surfaces like a sofa or bed; not charging large devices like e-bikes or hoverboards inside the front door, potentially blocking the exit; storing batteries at room temperature and avoiding leaving them in conditions like direct sunlight or freezing temperatures; and checking them routinely.
“Look for signs of swelling, leaks, corrosion, any sort of damage,” said Kelly. “You never want to charge a battery that you suspect could be compromised.”
When disposing of the batteries, they should not be thrown in the trash or recycling bins but taken to specific battery recycling locations. Locations can be found via websites like batterynetwork.org.
“They are safe to use,” Kelly said. “I don’t want to scare people away from them, but they do pack a lot of energy. As long as you’re using them properly and by the recommended manufacturer’s guidelines, they’re safe.”
“To all of our firefighters, to all of our civilian staff, and to all of our first responders, thank you for ensuring that our city is safe,” Wu said, “and that we continue to share ways with the public to be transparent and take every possible action so that incidents like this never happen again.”
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