ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – Officials say a fire in Ithaca was caused by an E-bike battery.

Ithaca firefighters were called to the Ithaca Arthaus on Cherry Street just after 6:30 a.m. for a reported 4th-floor apartment fire. Ithaca Fire Department (IFD) Assistant Chief and Public Information Officer Jim Wheal says the blaze started when the battery began to burn and exploded.

When IFD arrived, crews immediately began searching for occupants. After it was determined three people made it out safely, crews extinguished the fire.

The building suffered moderate smoke and water damage, noting that the building’s sprinkler system was activated and prevented the fire from getting bigger. Ithaca Fire reminds the public that charging large batteries indoors can be risky, and to avoid charging them in stairwells, hallways, or doorways in your exit path.

The Red Cross has been contacted to help the displaced occupants.