ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A house fire in St. Augustine on Thursday was sparked by a charging golf cart, according to St. Johns County Fire Rescue.
Fire rescue was sent to the home in the 100 block of Pine Candle Way on Thursday afternoon.
When they arrived, they found smoke and fire coming from the property's garage.
The fire was quickly put out, and the source of the fire was identified as a charging golf cart that was left inside the garage.
"Citizens are reminded to follow proper safety procedures when charging these vehicles," SJCFR said on Facebook.
While it is unclear what inside the golf cart sparked the fire, similar incidents have been attributed to lithium-ion batteries.
In June 2023, a Jacksonville family lost their home in the E-Town area after a golf cart caught fire inside the garage. The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department said the fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery.
Lithium batteries are used in everyday electronics like phones and laptops, and they are also used in bigger battery-powered vehicles, like golf carts.
First Coast News spoke with David Gilliam in June regarding the incident. He said it's not the batteries themselves that are dangerous, but if they get too hot, they can react.
"Overcharging is the main cause of fires with any golf carts," said Gilliam.
If the batteries are not stored correctly or are damaged, they can also pose a fire risk.
"Each battery comes with its own charger. It is designed to charge it and shut off, not stay continuously running for days at a time. It even says it on the battery 'Do not leave plugged in for longer than 24 hours,'" added Gilliam.
Thankfully, no one was hurt in Thursday's fire.