Two Battery Fires Put Lithium-Ion Hazards in Focus

Cortland, N.Y. — September 13, 2026 — Within about 24 hours, Cortland firefighters responded to two separate incidents involving lithium-ion batteriesone was a portable speaker catching fire at a student dorm, and the other was an e-bike battery igniting in an apartment building. 

The first incident took place around 9 p.m. On Friday, September 11, in the city’s Fifth Ward. The Cortland Fire Department was called to a four-story sorority house, which housed over 50 students, following reports of a fire in one of the bedrooms. 

When the firefighters arrived, they found the building being evacuated. The fire department stated that the person in the room said a portable speaker had exploded and started burning. Before the firefighters arrived, a housemate used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. 

As crews moved to the second floor, they encountered light smoke and the smell of burning materials. A two-inch attack line was moved forward as a precaution while a second engine arrived and connected to a nearby hydrant for water. 

Firefighters located lingering fire and heat in the bedroom and put it out using a pressurized water extinguisher. More crews searched the residence to verify that all occupants had left. 

The impacted speaker and lithium-ion batteries were taken out and secured with CellBlock, a product designed to contain battery fires. Before residents could return, firefighters ventilated the building and kept a close watch on conditions. The department’s investigation concluded that the fire was accidental. No injuries were reported, and crews stayed at the scene for more than 90 minutes. 

Within less than 24 hours, around 3:15 p.m. On Saturday, September 12, firefighters responded to a four-unit apartment complex in the Fifth Ward for a reported e-bike fire. 

Fire crews discovered a lithium-ion battery pack smoking outside, close to the front entrance of the building. The department stated that the battery was charging inside an apartment when the resident heard popping and hissing. The person removed the battery from its charger and took it outside before it allegedly caught fire. 

Firefighters used CellBlock to secure the damaged battery and took the hazard out of the building. Thermal-imaging equipment and air-monitoring meters were employed to inspect the apartment for concealed heat, fire damage, or other potential hazards. No injuries were reported.