HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — An electric wheelchair exploded into flames right outside a Hollywood home, but that homeowner’s quick thinking is being praised by first responders.

It was Sunday morning when Alexandra Anaya heard a clicking sound coming from the battery pack of the new electric wheelchair she’d bought at a thrift store.

After hearing the noises, to be safe, she moved it outside of her home located along the 5900 block of N Farragut Drive.

Surveillance video captured her watching the wheelchair for a moment and then sprinting away just before it exploded and caught fire.

Fortunately, it was away from the home and the blaze didn’t spread any further.

Anaya’s mother passed away recently, and in this close call, she said she believes her mom was watching out for her.

“She’s just gotta be looking over me,” Anaya said. “There was just too much coincidence here to be a coincidence.”

Hollywood Fire Rescue said her actions saved her and her family from catastrophe, confirming that it was a dangerous lithium battery fire.

Anaya hopes her story helps prevent disaster from happening to someone else.

“Don’t leave this stuff charging when you’re not home,” Anaya said. “Always do it when you’re home and you can keep an eye on it, because stuff explodes. This could’ve happened to anybody.”

Officials with Hollywood Fire Rescue said if you hear clicking, popping or hissing on one of those devices, immediately stop using it and move it to an area like outside if you can.

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