Just hours after a second-alarm fire destroyed a home on Main Street in Athol, a Millers Falls homeowner’s quick thinking helped minimize damage to her house when a power tool battery caught fire on Tuesday.

“Thank God I have [a fire extinguisher],” Kim Bernier said from her front steps at 11 Green Pond Road. “People should really think about having one on hand.”

While firefighters ensured her home was free of any combustible gases, Bernier recounted how she reached for the extinguisher after noticing the smell of smoke coming from the back of her home on Tuesday afternoon. She found the fire was coming from a lithium battery she’d used in her lawn mower the day prior. After extinguishing it, Bernier pushed the cart it was resting on away from the house.

Turners Falls Fire Chief Todd Brunelle said what caused the battery, which wasn’t actively charging at the time of the fire, to ignite remains under investigation. He commended Bernier for calling 911 immediately, at around 2:46 p.m., and for following up with dispatchers after she’d extinguished the fire. This allowed the departments that were dispatched as mutual aid to return to their stations.

“It’s very helpful to call right away,” Brunelle said. “Every moment we delay, it can grow.”

The siding of the house sustained minimal cosmetic damage, he said. There appeared to be no structural damage caused by the fire.

Brunelle said the fire on Tuesday serves as a reminder for folks to be “very cautious” with lithium batteries, particularly how they are stored.

“Always err on the side of caution,” he said.

Two fires in as many days in Athol

Earlier in the day, firefighters responded to Athol’s second fire in two days, the latter of which resulted in the “total loss” of a Main Street home.

The Athol Fire Department was dispatched to 1756 Main St. at 8:37 a.m. on Tuesday for a reported structure fire, which eventually led to a second alarm being struck. Athol Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Parker said the fire remains under investigation, which was being assisted by state Fire District 8’s investigation team.

“The sole occupant was out of the building shortly after we got here and was not claiming any injuries,” Parker said.

Parker said firefighters started with an external attack on the fire and prepared to enter the building. However, items inside the home prevented them from getting in safely.

“We had crews making attempts on the ‘A’ side, but due to the contents of the home, they were unable to make entry because it was not safe,” Parker said. He said they need to remove some bushes and trees on the west side of the building to get access.

An excavator also was coming to assist in removing part of the roof.

Mutual aid partners included the Athol Police and Highway departments, along with the Orange, Phillipston, Gardner, Westminter, Royalston, Barre and Petersham fire departments and Woods Ambulance. National Grid, the building and electrical inspector, and the Salvation Army also responded.

Tuesday’s fire was the second in two days, following a Monday morning fire on Froman Street that resulted in a total loss of the house, but an effective response from firefighters allowed the family to retrieve some of their personal belongings. No injuries were reported to the occupants, but the family dog may have suffered minor injuries.

“Excellent job by the firefighters on scene and the PD in their assists,” Parker said. “Very good job.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081. Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.