Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office issues safety tips for lithium-ion batteries
The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office is raising concerns about potential fires linked to lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in products like smart phones, laptops and e-scooters. A report…
From the Lithium News archive. This article dates from Feb 18, 2024 and is preserved as first published.
The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office is raising concerns about potential fires linked to lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in products like smart phones, laptops and e-scooters.
A report released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found 208 fire incidents occurred in the past two years, resulting in 19 deaths linked to lithium-ion battery fires or overheating of batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries supply power to many kinds of devices including smart phones, laptops, e-scooters, bikes, cigarettes, smoke alarms, toys and even cars. If damaged or used incorrectly, these batteries can catch on fire or explode, the state fire marshal’s office said in a press release.
The number of battery fires is growing as the number of battery-operated devices increases. The fires can cause extensive damage and, in some cases, be fatal, the press release said.
The number of battery fires is growing as the number of battery-operated devices increases.
Take the following precautions when using lithium-ion batteries:
– Purchase and use devices that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
– Only use charging cords that come with the device.
– Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed or on a sofa.
– Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.
– Only use the battery that is designed for the device.
– Store batteries away from anything that can catch fire.
– Put batteries in the device the right way.
– Keep batteries at room temperature when possible. Do not charge them at temperatures below 32°F (0°C) or above 105°F (40°C).
