A North Carolina family experienced a frightening incident when a children’s book with a button battery caused a fire in their minivan, igniting the car seat shortly after they had parked. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, as the child had exited the vehicle moments before the fire broke out.
The George Hildebran Fire & Rescue Department responded to the fire in Burke County, located about 70 miles northwest of Charlotte. According to their Facebook post, the fire was traced back to a button battery inside a children’s book that had been left under the car seat. This battery caused the seat’s padding and some of the plastic to catch fire.
Photos shared by the department reveal the extent of the damage, showing the bottom of the car seat burned and partially melted. Although the department displayed an image of a Cocomelon book titled “JJ’s Potty Time,” which is known to make sounds, it remains unclear whether this particular book was the source of the fire.
Destiny Williams, the child’s mother, shared with WSOC-TV that the family had just returned from church and were inside their home for about 20 minutes when the fire began. Her daughter Misty had been sitting in the car seat during the drive.
“This is crazy, but thank God for protecting her,” Destiny Williams said. Her husband, Pressley Williams, expressed his shock upon learning the cause of the fire.
“When the fire marshal came and confirmed it was from a lithium battery in a child’s book, I was honestly shocked and surprised,” Pressley Williams stated.
The family noted that the book responsible for the fire did not have a warning label, and despite reaching out to the company for compensation for the damages, they have yet to receive a response. They hope their experience serves as a cautionary tale for other parents, urging them to be aware of the potential dangers of button batteries in children’s items.
This incident highlights the importance of keeping items containing button batteries out of reach of children and checking for any warning labels or potential hazards. Firefighters and safety officials continue to emphasize the risks associated with button batteries, especially in products designed for young children.