Rad Energy Bikes warehouse catches fireplace following flammable battery warnings

In a wierd coincidence, a fireplace broke out this week on the Rad Energy Bikes retail retailer warehouse in Huntington Seaside, California, Electrek reports. The structural blaze got here lower than two months after the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warned prospects to “instantly cease” utilizing and eliminate a number of the firm’s e-bike batteries as a consequence of fireplace hazard. In December, Rad filed for Chapter 11 chapter safety, stating it could not afford to recall the batteries.

“We’re working with native authorities to overview a thermal incident that occurred at our Huntington Seaside retailer Sunday night,” a Rad Energy Bikes spokesperson advised Engadget. “The incident was contained and occurred whereas the shop was closed. The reason for the hearth has not been confirmed.”

The latest two-alarm fireplace hit a business advanced with a number of companies. Footage from the fire reveals e-bikes exterior of the warehouse as firemen fought the blaze. Engadget has reached out to Rad for extra info on the hearth’s impression.

The CPSC’s November warning advised of 31 studies of fireside, with 12 of these involving property injury. In some circumstances, the battery was in storage, not being charged or used, but nonetheless caught fireplace. The CPSC advised prospects to do away with (in a protected, detailed method) particular fashions of Rad’s lithium-ion batteries. It claimed that the “hazardous” batteries have been susceptible to igniting or exploding, much more if moist or interacting with particles.

Rad advised the CPSC it could not recall the batteries because it could not afford to supply replacements and refunds. “Rad provided a number of good-faith options to deal with the company’s considerations, together with providing customers a possibility to improve to Secure Defend batteries (described beneath) at a considerable low cost. CPSC rejected this chance,” Rad Power Bikes said in a statement on the time. “The numerous price of the all-or-nothing demand would pressure Rad to close its doorways instantly, leaving no method to help our riders or our workers.”

The corporate additionally mentioned it disagreed with the CPSC’s “characterization of sure Rad batteries as faulty or unsafe.” It additionally pointed to the incident price being beneath one % and acknowledged that every one lithium-ion batteries include a danger when prospects do issues — resembling improper charging and extreme publicity to moisture — that Rad cautions towards.

Replace, January 20 2026, 11:08AM ET: This story has been up to date to incorporate a press release from Rad Energy Bikes.