| Michael Shetler Heliman
Twin Falls ,Idaho
My Posts: All Forum Topic | Just thought I would share with all what happened to me this last weekend of the 4th of dec. 2004. My friend came up from Salt Lake to fly helis and planes. We built and charged all friday night. Flew all day saturday, and headed home to charge more battery's and fix a few foame's. My wife and kids were gone to town so Erick and I headed in to get a bite to eat. I told him I don't like the idea of leaving the lithium batt. charging while we were gone. Any way we left them charging and headed to town. Erick wanted to go to a sit down dinner like outback. I talked him into going to a drive- through and heading straight home.
We got back to my house and turning the corner I looked over to see flames in the 3rd leval window where my hobby room and office was. They looked to be 4'-6' tall. It was the most terrifying thing that either one of us had ever seen.
I hit the garage door button and proceeded up to fight the fire while calling 911. I fought the fire for 20-25 minutes before the fire department got there. They put the fire out and we only lost the 3 rd level. But as I said it was my office and hobby room. I lost everything
4 helicopters 2 giant airplanes, 4 foamy air planes , 3 9z wc2's, everything, 3 computers printers 66" big screen 32 speakers surround.
I have a trailer that I pull behind my diesel pusher motor home or my h2 hummer and I had just unloaded everything up stairs. All of my aierial photography stuff was up there. And I had allot of stuff and I mean allot , if you ask the people that fly with me like Tabby Tab or Erick Klapstein.
Anyway the moral of the story is lithium batt. should not be kept or chearged in the house. I have charged them 100's of times with no problems until now. But I guess all it takes is one time. This thing has freaked me out. I have charged those battery's many of times while my wife and kids and I were all sleeping or away at town. And just to think if Erick and I would have not have come back 500,000 dollars would have been down the drain. All 5,500 sq. ft. would have been gone over a F_ _ _ king lith. Batt. I think the total lost just in parts tools computers helis and planes is around 70k not including everything else furniature big screen ,structure,This is ASS.
If I remain doing this hobby I am bying a fire proof safe that I will keep and charge all battery's.
Oh and Jeff, I just got my new 20d in the mail last Wed. and lost it in the fire . We found it it's just a little smaller. This whole thing has been an eye opener.
Anyway be safe and be careful with your battery's it's not a matter of if it's when with lithium.
(Merry Christmas to all) Mike Shetler |
Just kidding Mike 
I am just glad nobody(or your pets) were injured. For those who dont know Mike personally his wife is trying to start a zoo at their home, there are ferets, eels, cats, dogs, chickens, rabbits, and who knows what else
