Fire at Rad Power Bikes retail facility in California is latest trouble for Seattle startup

A fire broke out at a Rad Power Bikes retail location in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Sunday, drawing more attention to the Seattle-based e-bike company’s recent setbacks.

The Huntington Beach Fire Department responded to a two-alarm structure fire at a plaza housing the store on Pacific Coast Highway. Video streamed on YouTube shows firefighters dealing with the incident, and at least two e-bikes can be seen lying on the ground outside the facility. A photo on Facebook showed smoke rising from the building, which also contains an Equinox gym.

“We’re working with local authorities to review a thermal incident that occurred at our Huntington Beach store Sunday evening,” a Rad spokesperson told GeekWire. “The incident was contained and happened while the store was closed. The cause of the fire has not been confirmed.”

Elektrek reported the news early Tuesday.

The fire comes in the midst of a rough period for the once high-flying Rad Power Bikes. The startup filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December following surprising news in November that the company was fighting for survival as it faced “significant financial challenges.”

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning to consumers less than two months ago to stop using some of the company’s bikes because of danger posed by their lithium-ion batteries. The CPSC warning mentioned 31 reports of fire, with 12 involving property damage.

“Some of these incidents occurred when the battery was not charging, the product was not in use, and the product was in storage,” the report stated.

In a statement at the time, Rad said it “firmly stands behind our batteries and our reputation as leaders in the e-bike industry, and strongly disagrees with the CPSC’s characterization of certain Rad batteries as defective or unsafe.”

Related:

• Rad Power Bikes rider’s DIY solution for potential battery fire sparks broader safety discussion
• Rad Power Bikes closing stores in Vancouver, B.C., and Florida; 7 more will remain open
• New CEO leading Rad Power Bikes in the midst of e-bike seller’s bankruptcy proceedings
• Rad Power Bikes’ biggest unpaid bill is $8.3M to U.S. Customs, as tariffs squeeze the industry
• The rise and fall of Rad Power Bikes: From breakout success to the brink of shutdown