The fire and explosion that damaged a home on East Skyline Parkway early Saturday morning was started by a lithium battery pack, the Duluth Fire Department has determined.
Deputy Fire Marshal Ken Goossen said he examined the home at 1605 E. Skyline Parkway with a private investigator from the Twin Cities. He said the fire was started by a faulty lithium battery pack that was to be used to power air pistols.
"We recovered six of these things, and one of them was burnt to a crisp," Goossen said.
Goossen said the explosion probably was the result of a resident opening a door to the basement, where the fire started, and creating a backdraft by adding fresh oxygen to the fire.
One occupant of the home suffered a burn on his head and was hospitalized. The home's other occupant was not injured. A dog was taken to an emergency veterinarian after the incident.
