Steamboat Springs firefighters responded to a report of an “explosion” at the Walton Village Condominium Complex just after 10 p.m. Wednesday.

“Explosion would be an exaggeration. Actually, it would be a huge exaggeration,”said Steamboat Fire Rescue Captain Michael Arce said.

Arce said neighbors had rushed to the burning battery and poured enough water on it to extinguish the flames before firefighters arrived. No one was hurt and, aside from the e-bike, no property was damaged.

The fire captain hypothesized the bike’s battery may have been older, but Arce said it was unclear what caused it to combust, adding that while he was not aware of the department confronting a burning bike battery in the past, that may change given their increasing popularity.

That is the trend nationwide, according to a recent report from the U.S. Consumer Protection Agency, which identified an increase in fires associated with so-called “micromobility” devices powered by lithium-ion batteries, including e-bikes, e-scooters and hover boards increased between 2021 and 2022.

According to the report, 39 states reported just over 200 fires or overheating incidents involving the devices resulting in 19 fatalities and 22 injuries over that time period, with the majority of reported incidents involving batteries that were being charged or had recently been charged.

In New York City, which was not included in agency’s count, there were more than 200 fires caused by e-bike batteries or scooters reported in 2022 alone.

Last year, a pair of e-bikes stored in a garage in Vail caught fire in an incident resulting in an estimated $250,000 in damage.

More common than e-bike battery fire incidents, those seen in Steamboat are more likely to be in electric vehicles, according to Arce. Although still rare, they require a much different approach for firefighters compared to a response involving fire to a gasoline-powered vehicle.

An electric vehicle fire typically burns at around 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit — three times hotter than most gasoline-powered engine fires — and a burning lithium-ion battery can require up to 10 times as much water, or roughly 20,000 gallons, to extinguish.

Arce explained that, if an electric vehicle is on fire inside a garage or near a structure, firefighters use a tow truck to move it to a safe distance and snuff the flames with a specialized blanket.

“We just wouldn’t have enough water to put it out,” said Arce.