Fire in truck carrying lithium ion batteries leads to 3-hour evacuation in Columbus, Ohio

2025-04-19 22:11:05 source: category:My

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Authorities evacuated an area of Ohio’s capital, Columbus, for several hours on Thursday out of fear that a fire in truck’s trailer could have caused lithium ion batteries to explode.

Police began evacuating a several-block area west of downtown shortly after 7 a.m. and closed off several highway exits near the Scioto River. Officers went door-to-door to alert residents about the evacuation, and a shelter was set up at a community center.

Although firefighters were still battling the blaze as of late morning, the evacuation order was lifted about three hours after it was issued and no injuries were reported.

The evacuation was ordered out of concern that the batteries could burn very rapidly and explode.

The fire was discovered at around 6 a.m., but the back of the smoking trailer wasn’t opened until around 9 a.m. because authorities were determining the best way to extinguish the blaze.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

More:My

Recommend

$73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J. (AP) — A $73.5 million beach replenishment project will kick off at the J

New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez wants psychiatrist to testify about his habit of stockpiling cash

Washington — When federal investigators executed a search warrant at Sen. Bob Menendez's New Jersey

Late-season storm expected to bring heavy snowfall to the Sierra Nevada

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) — A late-season storm is expected to hit the Sierra Nevada this weeken