Person killed in San Jose apartment fire sparked by e-bike battery, firefighters say

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- An adult was killed Friday morning trying to fight a fire sparked by an e-bike's rechargeable battery in an apartment on Norwalk Drive, San Jose firefighters said.

Firefighters were dispatched at 8:31 a.m. to the apartment, where one occupant moved outside to safety while the other remained inside to fight the blaze, the department said on social media.

The adult inside eventually made it out of the apartment but collapsed, firefighters said. A neighbor started CPR before fire crews arrived.

The victim was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and was later pronounced dead.

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"Lithium-ion battery fires produce thick, toxic smoke within seconds, which can contain carbon monoxide and other highly irritating gases," the fire department said.

"Even trained firefighters do not enter smoke-filled environments without proper protective gear and self-contained breathing apparatus, because exposure can be deadly within moments."

Firefighters advise getting out immediately if a battery starts smoking or catches fire and not trying to fight the blaze.

"When a battery ignites, escaping to safety should always be your priority," the fire department said.