Gaffney firefighters believe a Tuesday afternoon fire was sparked by loose batteries.

A neighbor spotted smoke coming from a home at 114 Claremont St. and was able to get inside and throw a pot of water on a fire inside the home, said Gaffney Fire Chief Nathan Ellis.

The neighbor’s actions saved the home from any major structural damage.

“He was a very good neighbor,” the chief said.

Ellis said it’s believed that a pouch with loose batteries was the culprit.

“We believe that loose batteries in a pouch came into contact with metal objects in the pouch, creating a circuit and generated enough heat to burn,” he said.

While it may be a rare occurrence, it’s something the fire chief has seen before at another fire scene traced to a kitchen drawer full of loose batteries.

The fire on Claremont Street damaged a ceiling, wall and mantle but was extinguished before it caused any major structural damage. There was smoke damage throughout the home, though.

Ellis said utility service was not impacted by the fire and the resident of the home was allowed to stay there.