GREENSBORO— The Greensboro Fire Department (GFD) Responded to the area of Runaway Pond on Route 16 for a vehicle fire. Upon arrival, the fire had smothered itself out. Crews disconnected the vehicle battery and checked for any other hot areas of the vehicle. No one was injured. The operator had parked the truck for a few hours, and upon returning saw smoke and called 911. The suspected cause is a failed battery powered hand warmer. The driver had the hand warmer in the center console plugged into a phone charger. The fire started in the center console in the area of the hand warmer, before spreading to the ceiling, and then smothering itself out due to lack of oxygen in the closed cab. Crews were back in service by 7 p.m.
The GFD reminds residents and community members to use approved factory chargers with electric devices, as some aftermarket chargers can charge batteries too quickly causing a them to overheat.
