ATLANTA — Atlanta Fire Department officials say a defective Lithium-ion battery likely caused a fire Monday night.

The fire happened in a third-floor apartment at the HERE Atlanta Student Apartments on Spring Street in Midtown Atlanta.

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“Those batteries need to be in an area away from any other combustibles and if the batteries are damaged they need to be removed from the interior,” said Atlanta Fire Department Battalion Chief Jerry DeBerry.

The fire was quickly put out and all evacuated residents returned to their homes.

Last week, an apartment fire in Bronx, New York attributed to a bad battery on an electric bike, killed one resident and injured several others.

Each year, firefighters in New York City battle hundreds of fires caused by lithium batteries.

The batteries are in many consumer devices including e-scooters and hoverboards. In the last five years, nearly a million hoverboards have been recalled due to fire dangers.

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Lithium batteries are normally safe, but those that have been damaged or defective can spark fires, including explosive fires.

Officials advised removing a lithium-charged device after it is fully charged to reduce the risk of overheating and storing batteries in a cool dry place.

“No scooters or e-bikes inside or hoverboards inside. Things of that nature keep them outside,” said Chief DeBerry.

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The polls are getting ready to close and officials are preparing to count the ballots in the runoff elections across metro Atlanta.

Voting opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday and will end at 7 p.m. Those who were in line by 7 p.m. are still allowed to cast their votes.

There were several municipal runoffs that were of interest to our area.

Those elections included seats on the Atlanta school board and a race to decide Brookhaven’s new mayor.

There were also city council races in Brookhaven, Doraville, East Point, Roswell, Snellville and South Fulton.

Bookmark this page and check back later for live results.

Results of the 2023 municipal runoff elections in metro Atlanta

More information about voting in Georgia.

FOX 5 Atlanta will have live coverage of the results on-air and online.

ATLANTA — Jamie Foxx made a surprise appearance Monday night and spoke about his health scare and hospital stay here in Atlanta in April.

Foxx, 55, has yet to disclose what exactly happened to him, but told the audience at the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema and Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements that he’s “been through some things.”

“It feels good to be here. I cherish every single minute now. Its different. Its beyond,” Foxx said.

Foxx accepted the Vanguard Award Monday night for his performance in “The Burial.” He received a standing ovation as he was across the stage.

“It’s crazy, I couldn’t do that six months ago. I couldn’t actually walk,” he said.

The actor was hospitalized in Atlanta on April 10. He had been here finishing a Netflix movie called “Back in Action.”

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Foxx spent a few weeks in the hospital before moving to a rehab facility in Chicago.

“I wouldn’t wish what I went through on my worst enemy, because it’s tough when you almost… When it’s almost over, when you see the tunnel,” Foxx said. “I saw the tunnel. I didn’t see the light. It was hot in that tunnel, so I didn’t know where I was going. S***, am I going to the right place? I seen the devil goin ‘C’mon, now.’”

Foxx also thanked his friends and family for their love and support through his recovery, as well as keep the whole process private.

“My sister and my daughter were so great at not letting anybody know anything that happened,” Foxx said.

“I want to say six months ago I couldn’t fathom that this could happen or that I would be here, but as I walk up here to this microphone and get this Vanguard Award, all I can say is ‘Lord, have mercy, Jesus,’” Foxx said ending his speech.

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