With the holiday season approaching, you may be on the receiving end of items that are powered by lithium-ion batteries.
As they grow in popularity, officials are urging residents to be cautious with their use. We spoke with Mike Williams of Battery Warehouse.
“Dealing with lithium-ion batteries of any kind, like snowblowers and e-bikes, make sure you have a battery that is designed for the application you’re using it for and a charger designed for that battery,” Williams said.
He says that the biggest danger of a lithium ion battery fire is that they’re very difficult to put out.
“The average car fire needs about 2,500 gallons of water to put out. In a car fire involving a vehicle with a lithium-ion battery in California, it took 30,000 gallons of water on it. They do not go out,” Williams said. “They just keep burning until there’s no energy left in them.”
The National Fire Protection Association has now launched an expanded list of resources to help inform about the growing number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
The NFPA also offers these tips:
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Only purchase and use devices, batteries, and charging equipment that are listed by a nationally recognized testing lab and labeled accordingly.
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Use charging equipment that is only compatible with your device. To be safe, use only the charging equipment that is supplied with your device.
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Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.
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Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash. Recycling is always the best option. Take the batteries to a battery recycling location or contact your local waste department for disposal instructions.
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Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling, or change in color.
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Only have device repairs performed by a qualified professional.
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