A lithium-ion battery fire broke out at a home in the 12100 block of 160th Street East in the South Hill area on March 2, 2026, at 9:57 p.m. The battery, part of a heated jacket, ignited on its own while resting on a couch. The homeowner put out the fire using a bowl of water before Central Pierce Fire & Rescue crews arrived on scene.
When firefighters got there, the home's windows and doors were already open and no smoke or fire was visible. Crews searched the single-story home to confirm the fire had not spread. Damage was limited to the couch, and no injuries were reported.
Six units responded to the call, including four fire suppression units, one EMS unit, and one command and support unit. Central Pierce Fire & Rescue responds to an average of 128 emergency calls per day across its coverage area, which includes South Hill.