A Hollywood, Florida, woman escaped serious injury when a lithium-powered electric wheelchair she bought from a thrift store exploded into flames in her driveway, captured on her home security camera. The incident highlights growing safety concerns about lithium battery devices in American homes.
Warning Signs Went Unheeded
Alexandra Anaya purchased the Zinger power wheelchair from a local thrift store for a family member. Sunday morning, she woke to clicking sounds coming from the hallway where the wheelchair sat charging. The device used a lithium-ion battery, but Anaya admitted she was using a charger that did not come from the manufacturer. When she touched the battery, it felt extremely hot.
Anaya searched online for guidance and found warnings of imminent danger. The results instructed her to immediately move the device to cement or another area where fire could not spread. She wheeled the chair outside onto her driveway and watched it carefully. The wheelchair began making a hissing sound. Eight seconds later, it exploded into what Anaya described as a massive ball of fire with tremendous force.
Close Call For Florida Family
Security footage shows Anaya running toward her house as the wheelchair erupts behind her. Pieces of burning debris struck her in the back as she fled. The flames reached high enough that firefighters later told her the roof would have caught fire if the explosion had occurred while the wheelchair remained in her hallway. Anaya and her sister avoided injury, and their home sustained no damage. She credits divine intervention for her survival and wants other Americans to understand the dangers.
Battery Safety Warning
Hollywood Fire Rescue released safety guidelines for lithium battery users. Stop using devices immediately if you hear clicking, popping, or hissing sounds, or notice swelling. Move devices to non-combustible areas if safe to do so. Always use manufacturer-approved chargers, as cheap or incompatible chargers create serious hazards. Check batteries for excess heat during charging and never leave them charging unattended. Call 911 immediately if you see smoke or signs of thermal runaway. The Zinger company did not respond to requests for comment about the incident.
Sources
Nbcmiami: Video shows electric wheelchair exploding in Hollywood driveway – NBC 6 South Florida
I would not buy a used toaster let alone a used motorized wheelchair from a thrift shop. There are very strict safety standards for real motorized wheelchairs and both Zinger and Zoomer do not claim that they are wheelchairs. They are inexpensive personal mobility aides. All real medical electric devices and Zingers & Zoomer come with safety instructions. Most motorized wheelchairs are usually fully explained to the buyer and patients and families are offered lessons for use. This person was very lucky. Fire is not the only risk if you have not read and understood the instructions. A person has to be aware of surface, slope, center of gravity etc. to prevent tipping over.
I think the biggest red flag here is that they were using a charger not intended for that chair. I have been selling and servicing power mobility devices for 18 years and never once had one combust in any way when used according to manufacturer and dealer instructions. Always use OEM chargers and battery packs on mobility equipment. ALWAYS!
Good thing she notice something was wrong with it and got it outside before it blew up . I got a used washing machine a while back and about 10 percent of the time it would trip the GFCI I might not be here if it wasn’t plugged into a GFCI !