FLORIDA – Knowing how to properly charge your golf cart is not just about keeping it powered—it’s also about preventing potentially devastating fires at home.
Firefighters and investigators frequently find that many fires start because people use inexpensive or incorrect chargers for their golf carts.
Kelly Schatzel remembers when her home caught fire back in 2024. She said the fire started with a replacement charger her husband bought on Amazon after their original charger stopped working.
“I mean, I think it’s the easiest thing, right? Something doesn’t work. You need something. You go on Amazon. It’s here the next day,” she explained.
But she later learned that wasn’t the safest choice.
The St. Johns County Fire Department has seen a rise in fires linked to golf carts, especially those with lithium batteries. Chris Naff of St. Johns Fire and Rescue said, “We are seeing about a 6 to 7% increase in our fires for golf carts over the last few years.”
In just two years, they say they’ve responded to 10 home fires caused by golf carts, mostly due to faulty chargers or overcharged lithium batteries.
One of the most recent fires was on Windley Drive, where firefighters say an initial fire was sparked from a lithium golf cart.
Similar incidents are happening across the country. One neighbor in the Trailmark neighborhood showed News4Jax the damage to his home after a neighbor’s home caught fire.
Firefighters say the investigation into the exact cause is still unknown, but they did find a lithium battery-powered golf cart. The neighbor said the fire caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage and forced families to relocate for weeks.
“We have $92,000 in damage. It’s good that you guys are out here doing this story because the surrounding families with children had to go through that traumatic experience,” the neighbor said.
Statewide, the Florida Fire Marshal’s Office reports nine lithium-ion golf cart fires so far this year, seven of which happened while charging.
In 2024, there were 17 such fires, with nine occurring while charging.
When asked what viewers should take away, Naff stressed safety, while also explaining how a lithium-ion battery becomes dangerous.
“They can experience thermal runaway, a violent reaction inside the battery cell that creates intense fire and smoke, which can ignite nearby items,” he said.
Naff also advised that owners of devices containing these batteries should always refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations if any issues begin to present themselves.
“Don’t use off-brand batteries,” he added. “Charge them in a well-ventilated area like an open garage, driveway, or outside. And when you’re done charging, unplug both the charger from the wall and the battery from the charger.”
Schatzel said her fire was contained to her garage, which she uses for personal training, and credits the simple fire safety rule with saving her home.
“That was a prime example of keeping a door shut,” Naff said.
For Schatzel, however, the experience left a lasting impact.
“That fear will always be there. It was surreal standing on the street with our new neighbors, just thinking, ‘That’s our house.’”
Lithium-ion batteries are common not only in golf carts but also in electric vehicles, e-bikes, and cell phones.
Statewide data shows that in 2024, nearly 100 of 260 lithium-ion fires happened while devices were charging.
So far in 2025, 50 of 94 such fires have occurred under the same circumstances.
