CARMEL – Carmel Fire Department crews responded to two structure fires in the county seat.
The first occurred on Seminary Hill Road in an apartment building that displaced several residents.
When firefighters arrived, they found smoke and flames coming from second-floor units in the wood-frame building. Crews quickly brought the fire under control, preventing it from spreading. No tenants were injured, and firefighters rescued several pet cats.
Mutual aid came from the Brewster, Mahopac, Lake Carmel, and Yorktown fire departments.
The fire was determined to be accidental.
Carmel firefighters were later dispatched to a row of townhomes on Cottage Drive, where they extinguished a garage fire before it spread to the residence.
Investigators determined that a malfunctioning lithium-ion battery sparked the fire. While the blaze was limited to the garage, it caused significant fire, heat, and smoke damage there, and smoke also spread into parts of the home.
Brewster and Yorktown firefighters again assisted Carmel crews.
Carmel fire officials reminded the public of the dangers associated with lithium-ion batteries often found in power tools, rechargeable equipment, e-bikes, scooters, laptops, cell phones, and many household devices.
Fire department Captain Thomas Keck noted, “When damaged, improperly charged, or defective, they can fail violently and ignite surrounding materials within seconds.”
Carmel Police, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department personnel, Putnam County Fire Investigation Team and members of the Carmel Volunteer Ambulance Corps assisted at both fires.
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