Battery Fire at Sixth Street SRO Sends One Resident to the Hospital

"The fire broke out just after 9 pm Wednesday in a room on the fourth floor of the Seneca Hotel at 34 Sixth Street, a single-room-occupancy hotel. The San Francisco Fire Department said on social media that the fire had been contained to the room of origin, but left the room's occupant injured."

"The SFFD has previously said that lithium-ion battery fires tripled in frequency between 2013 and 2023, with the rise of mobility devices like e-scooters, and these fires hit a record high of 58 recorded in the city in 2022. This led to new city legislation two years ago changing the fire code for the charging of personal mobility devices (PMDs)."

"Over a ten-year period, lithium-ion battery fires were estimated to have caused $10.6 million in property damage in San Francisco, as well as 13 injuries, and one death."

A one-alarm structure fire broke out just after 9 pm Wednesday in a fourth-floor room of the Seneca Hotel at 34 Sixth Street in San Francisco. The fire was contained to the room of origin but left the occupant injured. The cause is believed to be a lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion battery fires have become increasingly common in the city, tripling in frequency between 2013 and 2023 due to mobility devices like e-scooters. The city recorded 58 such fires in 2022. Over ten years, these fires caused $10.6 million in property damage, 13 injuries, and one death. New fire code legislation two years ago banned extension cords and power strips for charging personal mobility devices indoors.

Read at sfist.com