CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – A battery-operated children’s book caught fire in a car seat in Burke County – but the publisher says the batteries are not lithium batteries, as some had suspected.
On Sunday, August 25, a car seat caught fire in the Williams family’s minivan in Burke County. Investigators determined the cause of the fire was a battery-operated book titled “CoComelon JJ’s Potty Time” that was left under the seat in the van.
Destiny Williams, the mother of toddler Misty, said she and her daughter had returned home from church 20 minutes before the fire started. A neighbor noticed smoke coming from the family’s vehicle and alerted them.
They were able to extinguish the fire with a hose before rescue workers arrived. Photos of the aftermath showed that the child seat was badly burned on the underside.
The family said they were lucky that their nearly two-year-old daughter was not in the van when the fire broke out.
“My first thought was, ‘What if it actually happened?’ Because if it did happen (with them in the car), I would be without a daughter and a wife,” said father Pressley Williams.
The fire marshal’s office determined the fire was started by a button battery in the children’s book. Cottage Door Press, the Illinois-based publisher, said the button batteries in the book were alkaline, not lithium, despite claims to the contrary.
“Our children’s electronic books, millions of which have been sold without incident, use alkaline batteries, not lithium-ion batteries as reported,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday, August 28. “We are relieved that no one was injured and are working closely with local authorities and experts to determine the cause of this incident.”
According to Cottage Door Press, the book in question contains three AG13 coin cell batteries. Here is a photo of the batteries provided by the publisher:
Lithium batteries are known to pose fire risks. With alkaline batteries, the biggest concern is that dangerous fluids can leak out – but alkaline batteries can also catch fire under certain conditions. Experts say alkaline batteries can ignite if the terminals come into contact with metal and heat is generated.
“I was surprised that it was a children’s book,” said Bobby Craig, fire chief of the George Hildebran Fire & Rescue Department. “These days, we’re a little more aware of the vehicles with their batteries and everything. But I didn’t really expect a children’s book to be (the reason).”
The Williams family said they did not see a fire hazard warning on the book they purchased for their toddler. However, there is a battery warning on the book cover and a choking hazard warning related to the batteries.
However, there is no mention of a fire hazard, as can be seen from an image of the book cover provided by the publisher.
Parents are urged not to carry battery-operated toys or books in their vehicles. The Williams family said the fire caused thousands of dollars in damage to their vehicle and it was no longer drivable after the fire.
Check out our Initial report to this story below.
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