Steel cabinet helps contain battery fire in Schwaz

A steel cabinet helped contain a battery fire in the basement of a two-apartment house in Schwaz, ORF reported. The owner had stored a battery-powered monowheel, a single-wheel electric vehicle, inside the cabinet, which had a built-in fire alarm.

Firefighters were called shortly after 12.30 a.m. on Saturday and arrived wearing breathing apparatus, prepared for a difficult operation. The fire had largely extinguished itself inside the cabinet because of the lack of oxygen, the fire brigade said. Crews took the monowheel outside and cooled it.

The alarm was connected to the owner’s mobile phone, allowing the fire to be detected early. Schwaz’s fire brigade praised the owner’s precautions and urged residents to take suitable fire-safety measures at home, noting that smoke alarms can save lives and help prevent greater damage.