During the colder months of the year, there can be a greater risk of house fires. However, with Christmas and gift-giving, lithium ion batteries and charging cords can increase the risk of residential fires.
Baton Rouge Fire Department’s spokesperson Billy Zachary said that like other areas of the country, there has been an increase in fires that lithium batteries are starting.
“We’ve seen an increase in fires that are caused by lithium ion batteries, whether it’s the cell phones or the chargers that plug into the cell phones, hoverboards, electric bikes, things like that.”
The National Fire Protection Association says the use of lithium batteries is increasing and can be a cause of concern for fire, especially during the holidays, when many gifts and toys contain them.
The National Fire Protection Association advises people to pay attention when buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery. Look for a safety certification mark such as UL, ETL, or CSA, which means the item meets important safety standards.
“If you’re going to buy chargers and charge cords for these products, make sure to use either the ones directly from the manufacturer or ones that are approved by the manufacturer to charge these devices, and always place the device on a hard surface,” Zachary added.
One of the more common ways a fire can start is when someone plugs in a cellphone to charge and sticks the phone on their bed or under a pillow and forgets about it, he said. The battery inside the phone or a malfunction in the charging cord can start a fire.
“Always make sure that if you’re going to plug it in, put it on a hard surface, and then after it’s fully charged, it’s a good practice to unplug the device from the charger instead of just leaving it plugged in after it’s fully charged.”
In addition, monitor any devices you’re charging for overheating, including the charging cords themselves. A phone or toy that’s too hot to touch can be a warning sign that it may catch on fire, Zachary said.
Power tools also commonly use lithium batteries and should be monitored, as well, even if they’re in a garage or outside. “It’s a good practice to go ahead and disconnect those batteries once they’re fully charged. Don’t just leave them in the charger.”
Zachary added that lithium batteries must be disposed of properly; not just in the household garbage or regular recycling bin.
“Often, these big box stores will accept used lithium ion products or items with a lithium ion battery,” he said. In addition, Zachary suggested searching online via www.call2recycle.org to find the closest battery recycling locations near you.
Space heaters
Although temperatures are staying mild and warm at this time, space heaters also cause a concern for house fires.
“You want to have those on a hard surface, and you want to try to have them at least three feet away from anything that can burn,” Zachary said.
He advises people to stay alert and never leave space heaters running unattended.
What to do if your devices catch fire
If you have a cell phone or another item that catches on fire in your home, you should seek help immediately.
“The first thing you would do, just like anything else is, yes, call 911,” Zachary said.
If you have a fire extinguisher in the home–which is recommended–you can attempt to put the fire out after you’ve already called the fire department.
For electric car fires, firefighters will often use a specialized fire blanket that helps to control and smother the fire over time. While the fire isn’t put out immediately, the blanket helps stop the fire from spreading and getting bigger.
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