Campus Alert Archive
UVM

A Skateboard Battery in Thermal Runaway Displaced 100 Students From a UVM Dorm

VTfireemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On February 14, 2025, a battery-powered skateboard went into thermal runaway on the third floor of Jeanne Mance Hall at the University of Vermont around 2:45 p.m., igniting a fire that the building's ceiling sprinklers extinguished. A UVM CatAlert attributed the blaze to the skateboard battery, and although no one was hurt, the fire, smoke, and water damage forced the relocation of roughly 100 residents for the rest of the academic year.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
University of Vermont
Public R1 · VT
~14,000 studentsCatAlert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction184 chars
CatAlert: Fire reported in Jeanne Mance Hall. Evacuate the building immediately and move to a safe distance. Burlington Fire is responding. Do not re-enter until an all-clear is given.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed, not verbatim: WCAX and the Vermont Cynic confirm a UVM CatAlert was issued about the fire, but the exact wording of the initial evacuation alert is not publicly archived.
The ~2:45 p.m. start time and Jeanne Mance Hall third-floor origin are confirmed by Burlington Fire via WCAX; the cause was later identified as a skateboard battery in thermal runaway.
FOLLOW-UPEmail
Approximate reconstruction335 chars
CatAlert update: The fire in Jeanne Mance Hall was caused by a battery-powered skateboard and was extinguished by the building's sprinkler system. There are no injuries. Due to smoke and water damage, residents cannot return tonight; Residential Life is arranging alternate housing and will be in touch directly with affected students.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed follow-up; the Vermont Cynic confirms the CatAlert attributed the fire to a battery-powered skateboard, and that roughly 100 residents were relocated for the rest of the academic year.
This is a follow-up rather than an all-clear: it explains the cause and addresses displacement, but the building itself was not cleared for return.
Context

Background

Around 2:45 p.m. on February 14, 2025, a battery-powered skateboard on the third floor of Jeanne Mance Hall at the University of Vermont went into thermal runaway, sparking a fire that the ceiling sprinklers extinguished. UVM Fire Marshal Barry Simays attributed the blaze to the battery, and a UVM CatAlert from the University Fire and Safety teams identified the skateboard as the cause. No one was hurt, but smoke and water damage made the hall uninhabitable, and UVM President's office noted roughly 100 students were relocated for the remainder of the academic year. The college subsequently banned hoverboards, e-scooters, e-bikes, and similar battery devices from residence halls. The case is part of a fast-growing category of lithium-battery fires on campuses, and it shows how a single device can convert into a months-long housing displacement even when sprinklers prevent injuries.
Analysis

Key Findings

A battery-powered skateboard in thermal runaway started the Jeanne Mance Hall fire around 2:45 p.m. on February 14, 2025
The building's sprinkler system extinguished the fire with no injuries, but smoke and water damage displaced about 100 students for the rest of the academic year
A UVM CatAlert explicitly attributed the fire to the skateboard battery, an unusually specific cause statement for an alert
UVM responded by banning battery-powered micro-mobility devices from residence halls, reflecting a national rise in lithium-battery campus fires
Outcome
No injuries were reported. The sprinklers extinguished the fire, but smoke and water damage made the residence hall uninhabitable; about 100 students were relocated to other halls for the remainder of the academic year. UVM subsequently banned battery-powered micro-mobility devices from residence halls.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Burlington Firefighters respond to UVM dorm fire - WCAX
    wcax.com
  2. Student Paper
    Displaced Jeanne Mance residents reckon with housing complications since dorm fire - The Vermont Cynic
    vtcynic.com
  3. Official
    Strength in the unity of our campus community - UVM Office of the President
    uvm.edu
Tags
firelithium-batteryvermontburlingtonresidence-halldisplacementemergency-notification
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion