A lithium battery factory was heavily damaged by fire Tuesday morning, temporarily forcing widespread evacuations in the Hillyard Neighborhood over environmental concerns. A neighbor called 911 to report the fire at 4019 E.

Spokane firefighters are responding to a lithium-ion battery fire that broke out in the Hillyard neighborhood Tuesday morning. The fire broke out on East Central Avenue near North Myrtle Street in the Hillyard neighborhood.

Three residents in a home north of the building remain evacuated and may be displaced for several days as the residence is decontaminated. Nearby businesses remain unaffected, and de Ruyter said the Fire Department is "feeling pretty safe" regarding the possible health impacts to Hillyard residents close to the fire.

A Spokane lithium battery factory was heavily damaged by fire Tuesday morning. Spokane firefighters were called to 4019 E. Central Ave. just after 4 a.m., said Spokane Fire Department spokesman Justin de Ruyter. The fire was first reported by a neighbor.

Spokane firefighters say fires caused by batteries are on the rise as technology advances and that the unique flames are more difficult to fight.