ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A fire that ripped through an east Orlando early Wednesday was likely caused by batteries on a charger, according to Orange County Fire Rescue.
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#BREAKING overnight fire destroys home in East Orlando. @OCFireRescue says it got the 911 call at 1:25a. They say the residents were charging batteries for their electric motorcycle when they blew up in their sleep. The two renters made it out safely. The family cat is missing. pic.twitter.com/nIDCTl3WLB
— Q McCray (@QMcCrayWFTV) March 23, 2022
Shortly before 1:30 a.m., firefighters were called to Renee Avenue, located in a neighborhood south of Colonial Drive and west of State Road 417.
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See the map below for approximate location of house fire:
When they arrived, they found the home engulfed in flames.
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Crews with Orange County Fire Rescue raced to put out the fire, but the home suffered major damage.
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WFTV has learned that home’s occupants were charging lithium batteries for their electric motorbikes when the fire broke out.
They heard a large “pop” followed by an explosion and within seconds, the couch in the living room caught fire, an OCFR battalion chief told Eyewitness News.
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The quick-spreading fire prompted a neighbor to dial 9-1-1.
The two residents, who are renters, both made it out of the home safely.
At last check, the whereabouts of a family pet were unknown.
Stay with WFTV.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates on this story.
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