Curitiba apartment fire severely burns man after battery explosion

A battery stored in a fourth‑floor apartment in the Boqueirão neighborhood of Curitiba ignited, causing a fire on the night of Friday, July 17. The homeowner was converting a vehicle to electric power and the battery reportedly exploded, spreading flames throughout the unit.

Two residents were treated for injuries: the apartment owner suffered severe burns covering roughly 50% of his body, and a nearby woman was treated for smoke inhalation. Residents managed to contain the blaze before fire‑fighters arrived, and the building’s structure was not compromised. The incident is under investigation by the local fire department to determine the cause and to examine safety practices surrounding home‑based battery storage.