A Meta Quest 3 external battery is suspected of causing a small fire and explosion in a Frankfort, Maine home on June 11. Firefighters released security footage showing the incident and are warning owners of the risks.
On June 11 a resident left an external battery for the Meta Quest 3 charging on a nightstand and heard a sudden noise while outside the home. Security video captured red flashes of light followed by a pop, after which four dogs ran downstairs as a small fireball rolled into view carrying flaming debris.
The Frankfort Volunteer Fire Department posted on Facebook that the nightstand was roughly 14 feet from the stairs, which measure about 15 feet long, to illustrate the force of the event. No injuries were reported, but the department noted that the home is being checked for potentially harmful fumes.
The incident remains under investigation. The fire department highlighted that while such explosions are uncommon, rechargeable batteries present known fire hazards in consumer electronics.
