‘Explosion-proof bag’ fails to contain e-bike battery explosion on Mackinac Island

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. – A fire on Mackinac Island over the weekend is believed to have been caused by an e-bike battery exploding inside.

According to authorities, smoke was spotted at about 7:30 a.m., Saturday, April 25, from a building on Cadotte Avenue. Chippewa Hotel Maintenance Director Roy Shryock reportedly called 911 and attempted to contain the blaze before emergency crews arrived.

The building’s electricity had already been disconnected due to prior flooding, and the battery was not actively charging at the time of the fire.

Firefighters entered the building, extinguished the fire and threw the burning e-bike battery out a window. Authorities said the battery was stored inside an “explosion-proof bag” -- but the bag failed to contain the explosion.

It’s reportedly Mackinac Island’s 10th e-bike-related fire. It comes less than a week after an exploding e-bike killed an Upper Peninsula resident.