More Stories






An electric scooter caught fire early Wednesday morning in Suffolk County.
The Mastic Beach Fire Department was dispatched to the scene around 3 a.m. in Mastic Beach.
While en route to the location, the department chiefs were alerted that a lithium-ion battery was involved.
A resident of the home acted fast and put the fire out with a garden hose prior to the firefighters’ arrival.
That quick thinking kept the flames from spreading to patio furniture or the house itself, fire officials say.
Crews stayed at the location for about an hour, actively cooling the battery pack to prevent thermal runaway before turning the scene over to the Brookhaven Town Fire Marshal’s Office to investigate.
The department is reminding owners of these lithium-ion battery-powered mobility devices to always charge them outside the home.
Officials also warn to only have modifications or repairs performed by factory-authorized repair centers and always use factory-authorized or approved parts and chargers.