Fire Prevention Week ‘Charges’ Into Safety

Fire safety experts are turning their focus to an increasingly common part of modern life: batteries.  

Many of the devices we use in our daily lives—phones, tablets, laptops, tools, toys, e-bikes, and scooters, to name a few—run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. 

As part of national Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) wants the public to be aware that damaged or incorrectly charged batteries can overheat, start a fire, or even explode. 

Mark Lambert, director of the WVU Extension Fire Service, said Fire Prevention Week rose from the ashes of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Since its founding in 1896, the NFPA has set standards and codes for fire and fire-related activities. 

He said lithium-ion battery safety is becoming a more important issue because their low cost means they get used in all kinds of products. 

“So they’re made by a lot of different manufacturers, and some of the cheaper off-brand batteries are not quite up to the standards of the batteries that you want to use,” Lambert said. “Also, because they’re electric and they have to charge, that can create heat, and if you leave them on soft surfaces: beds, pillows, couches it can trap that heat.” 

Lambert said there have also been cases of batteries spontaneously catching fire, but those instances are often connected to a battery damaged by a fall or cut. Overall, he said there is no cause for panic. 

“Just like most fire safety, common sense,” Lambert said. “If it’s hot, very hot when you’re charging it, or bulging or smoking, or if it’s been damaged somehow, don’t use it and get another battery.” 

Lambert recommended charging bigger items, like e-bike or scooter batteries, outside and away from structures as a safety precaution.  

The following key messages support this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme: 

• Charge devices on a table, desk, or other hard, flat surface. Do not charge them on beds, couches, or under pillows. Devices and chargers produce heat during normal charging. Soft surfaces can trap heat and block airflow, which can cause the battery to overheat. 

• Stop using your device if it feels very hot, starts to swell, is smoking, or has a strange smell. These are warning signs that the battery may be damaged or failing. 

• Unplug your device when it is fully charged. Do not leave it plugged in longer than needed. Leaving a device plugged in too long can increase heat and stress on the battery. 

• Charge larger items like e-bikes, scooters, and power tools outside and away from exits. These batteries are larger and store more energy. If they fail, fires can grow quickly and spread. 

• When on a plane, keep your device where you can see it while charging. Do not charge devices in overhead compartments. Do not charge e-cigarettes or vapes on a plane. If a battery overheats or fails, it is important for the flight crew to respond quickly. 

• Use the cord and charger that came with your device or ones approved by the manufacturer. Using the wrong charger can damage the battery and increase the risk of fire. 

“When you go to buy extra chargers, they’re pretty expensive, but sometimes those cheaper chargers can lead to problems with the battery,” Lambert said. “I try to stay with the manufacturer’s recommended charger if I’m going to get extra charger cables; the ones that say, ‘Apple approved’ or ‘Android approved.'”  

If a battery is visibly damaged, Lambert said to stop using or charging the device immediately and contacting the device’s manufacturer or local fire officials to learn how to properly dispose of a lithium ion battery. 

He said batteries and battery fires have become enough of a regular occurrence that the State Firefighting Academy has been developing and training protocols for firefighting cars with large batteries in them including EVs and hybrids.