TAMPA, FL – Floodwaters from Hurricane Helene prevented firefighters from reaching some house fires Thursday evening, and a surge of salt from the storm may have caused at least one devastating blaze.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor on Friday speculated that the house in the upscale Davis Islands neighborhood most likely burned down after an electric vehicle caught fire in the garage.

“Water and ion batteries do not mix. They literally explode. So if that was the case with this particular fire, I saw that house from the helicopter and there was only one wall left,” she said. “It’s very, very tragic. Fortunately, no one was injured.”

The exact cause of this fire is under investigation. According to FOX 13 in Tampa, another electric vehicle in the Davis Islands did catch fire, but it was not near the burning house.

Castor also added that several rental electric scooters exploded after being submerged in rapidly rising flood waters.

“Even scooters – we have a lot of reports of scooters hitting the water and the batteries exploding,” she continued.

FOX has reached out to Lim and Spin, Tampa’s scooter partners, about the mayor’s comments. A Spin spokesperson said that “community safety is always our top priority,” noting that 99% of their scooter fleet was “switched off and secured” before the storm hit.

“I want to clarify that we have not experienced any battery-related incidents in our vehicles, even during the recent storm,” offered Spin’s Bruno Lopes. “We hear and share Mayor Castor’s concerns about the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries and saltwater, but these concerns more often apply to privately owned devices, which may not meet the same rigorous safety standards as shared mobility devices. Spin batteries are specifically designed for safety and durability, including resistance to water ingress. They are fully sealed to prevent exposure to the elements, ensuring our vehicles meet the highest safety standards available on the market.

Lithium-ion batteries and floods

Lithium-ion batteries power many everyday items, from cell phones to laptops, as well as scooters, golf carts and electric vehicles.

Battery fires and floods are nothing new, but they are an increasing danger as more drivers choose electric vehicles over gasoline ones.

“The danger with lithium-ion batteries alone is that there is a lot of power packed into a tiny little package. And when that energy is released, it’s a tremendous amount of energy and a tremendous amount of heat,” said Rob Herrin, public safety specialist and chief of the Hillsborough County Fire Department in Tampa.

In 2022, Hurricane Ian caused 20 electric cars to catch fire after being flooded with salt water, posing a risk to emergency services.

After more wildfires broke out in the wake of Hurricane Idalia last year, the Palm Harbor, Florida, Fire Department issued another warning:

“If you own a hybrid or electric vehicle that has been exposed to saltwater in the last 24 hours as a result of recent flooding, it is very important that you move your vehicle from your garage immediately. Exposure to salt water can cause lithium-ion batteries to catch fire. If possible, move your vehicle to a higher level,” the agency advises.