December 17, 2025 – A Ring battery doorbell camera, model 5F97F2, is reported to have experienced thermal runaway in its battery pack, leading to a fire that damaged property at a residential carport. The incident, which occurred overnight, resulted in combustible materials around the doorbell catching fire, though the blaze reportedly extinguished itself and caused no injuries.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On November 29, 2025, an incident was reported involving a Ring 5F97F2 battery doorbell camera. The device was installed on a metal door at a residence, reportedly in a correct manner and under normal use conditions. Sometime during the overnight hours, the rechargeable battery pack within the doorbell camera experienced a thermal runaway event. This critical malfunction caused the battery to overheat severely and ignite, subsequently setting fire to surrounding combustible materials.
The fire spread to the wood trim of the door, the plastic door seal, and even ignited leaves outside the residence. The affected doors were located on a carport, separated by lattice work. Fortunately, the fire eventually self-extinguished after running out of readily available combustible materials. There were no injuries reported as a direct result of this fire.
Safety Concerns
The incident highlights significant safety concerns associated with battery-powered devices, particularly the risk of thermal runaway in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
- Immediate Dangers: The primary immediate danger is fire. Thermal runaway can lead to rapid and intense fires that can quickly spread to nearby combustible materials, as demonstrated in this incident. Such fires pose a severe risk of property damage and, critically, can endanger occupants, potentially causing burns, smoke inhalation injuries, or even fatalities if not detected and extinguished promptly.
- Long-Term Risks: Even if an initial fire self-extinguishes, the potential for structural damage from heat and smoke can compromise the integrity of building materials. There’s also the ongoing risk that other units of the same model or series could exhibit similar defects, posing a continuous fire hazard in homes.
- Who Might Be Affected: Homeowners, residents, and guests are directly at risk. If a fire spreads beyond the initial ignition point, neighbors and emergency responders could also be affected. The proximity of the doorbell to entry points means fires could obstruct escape routes.
- Property Damage Potential: As seen in this report, fire can quickly damage exterior and interior finishes, structural elements (wood trim), and potentially electronic systems. In a more severe scenario, an uncontrolled fire could lead to significant destruction of a residence or vehicle if a carport is attached or contains cars.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own a Ring 5F97F2 battery doorbell camera or any similar battery-powered device should take these precautions:
- Immediate Steps to Take: If you notice your Ring doorbell or any electronic device overheating, smoking, or showing signs of bulging, immediately and safely disconnect its power source if possible. If the device is smoking or on fire, evacuate the area immediately and call emergency services (911). Do not attempt to extinguish a lithium-ion battery fire with water, as it can be ineffective and potentially dangerous.
- How to Check If They Own the Affected Product: Verify the model number of your Ring doorbell. This information is typically found on the back of the device, on its packaging, or within the Ring app settings. If you own a Ring 5F97F2 model, pay close attention to its operation.
- Prevention Measures:
* Ensure all devices are installed according to manufacturer instructions.
* Avoid exposing battery-powered devices to extreme temperatures or direct sunlight for prolonged periods, which can stress batteries.
* Do not use third-party battery packs or charging accessories that are not explicitly approved by the manufacturer.
* Regularly check your device for any signs of physical damage, overheating, or unusual behavior.
* Consider installing smoke detectors in areas where battery-powered devices are located, especially near entryways or in carports.
- Reporting Procedures: If you experience a similar incident or discover a potential safety defect with your Ring doorbell or any other consumer product, report it immediately to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.SaferProducts.gov. You should also contact Amazon.com LLC (Ring’s manufacturer) to inform them of the incident.
Manufacturer’s Response
No response has been provided by Amazon.com LLC regarding this specific incident report at this time.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.