On Wednesday 7/17/24 at approximately 5:10pm, Mohegan FD was dispatched to Croton Park Rd in Cortlandt for a reported lithium ion battery explosion in a bedroom. This incident was during an additional structural fire in our district. Upon arrival of Mohegan FD, a portable lithium ion battery percussive massager was found to have thermal runaway in the bedroom. The percussive massager was brought outside to isolate it due to the potential fire hazard and minimizing further damage to the interior of the residence. The cause of the thermal runaway was due to the resident not able to find the correct charger and utilized a different charger causing the charger to receive 3 times the amount of power. Mohegan FD requested the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services Hazardous Materials Response Team was to the scene to secure the lithium ion battery massager. Once the massager was secured with Cell Block EX by WCDES Hazmat and Special Operations personnel, all units cleared the scene by 7pm. The Westchester County DES Hazmat Team transported the lithium ion batteries to the county’s Hazardous Materials Recovery Facility.

Mohegan FD:
Car 2262, 2266, Engine 253, Engine 257, Rescue 32

Westchester County Dept of Emergency Services:
Car 2002, County Car 4, County Car 9, Hazmat 1