Correction: This story was corrected to reflect that after evacuating, students affected by the fire were allowed to return to their dorms after 2 a.m.
At least one student was treated for unspecified injuries after a lithium-ion battery from a scooter ignited a fire inside a dormitory at San Diego State University late Tuesday night.
Officials said that crews were dispatched at around 11 p.m. Tuesday to the 6100 block of Montezuma Road, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. The blaze was reportedly contained quickly, but water significantly damaged about 16 dormitories in the process.
The building was evacuated. Students who wished to return to their dorms were allowed to do so shortly after 2 am, a university spokesperson said. The injured student’s condition was not immediately available.
The university spokesperson also said officials are working with students affected by the fire to find replacement housing and provide other support.
“We are definitely seeing an increase in these types of fires and so it is extremely important that we educate people on what they can do to prevent lithium-ion batteries from catching fire,” SDFRD Battalion Chief Robert Rezende said. “These fires are extremely challenging to put out because these batteries continue to heat up and reignite even with water application.”
