JACKSON, Wyo. — This year’s Fire Prevention Month theme, chosen by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), is Charge into Fire Safety. The theme stems from the number of fires around the country that start due to lithium-ion batteries.
Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Fire Marshal Raymond Lane gave Buckrail some tips and advice to follow when dealing with lithium-ion batteries to reduce the risk of combustion. The No. 1 way to stay safe is to refrain from charging or storing lithium-ion batteries near an exit, especially if it’s the only way out.
“When these things go off, it’s like a flame thrower,” Lane said. “It can very quickly cut off the only way you can get out.”
This advice applies to any item that uses a lithium-ion battery, which includes cellphones, portable tools, Bluetooth speakers and e-bikes. According to Lane, these batteries do not have to be charging to catch on fire, though that is a more common occurrence. Storing an e-bike just inside the only egress of a house or apartment would pose significant danger if it were to catch fire.
Lane also stressed the importance of using only the manufacturer’s charger that came with the device, because they are rated and matched appropriately. A charger that did not accompany a device might not be properly rated for that size battery and can overcharge the device. This can lead to overheating and thermal runaway — a nearly unstoppable chemical chain reaction that occurs inside the battery, when one cell heats up then heats up the next cell, which then heats up the next cell. The process can result in fires and explosions.
Physical damage to a battery can also lead to thermal runaway, as can charging a device in a spot that does not allow for heat dissipation, such as under a blanket or pillow. Batteries should be charged on a hard surface. When a lithium-ion battery is damaged, Lane said it will swell up like a balloon. Even inside a cellphone, the battery will cause the case to expand. In Lane’s experience, about 80% of failing batteries will cause a fire if put on the charger. There is an added risk with e-bikes because there is more potential for the batteries to become physically damaged through impact or a crash.
“If it looks like the battery is damaged or the housing is damaged, discontinue using it and see if you can get another one,” Lane said. “If you try to charge that one, there’s a good chance it may fail.”
To prevent lithium-ion battery fires, always make sure any purchased device is approved and listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). This will typically be stated under “product information” and “certifications.” Some cheaper online retailers sell items with untested and non-UL listed batteries. When it’s time to discard, lithium-ion batteries should always be recycled, not thrown in the garbage. If a garbage truck crushes one of these batteries, it could overheat and start a fire. The Teton County Recycling Center accepts lithium batteries for recycling; learn more here.
“Here locally, in the last two years, we’ve only responded to two [battery-caused fires] that I can recall, which we’re all super grateful for,” Lane said. “It’s not a huge thing here, but the potential is there. Any one of them could be a major fire.”
Learn more about Fire Prevention Month on the NFPA website.
