PLYMOUTH — Chief Neil Foley of the Plymouth Fire Department would like to share the following tips about lithium-ion battery fire prevention after responding to a fire caused by an electric scooter’s lithium-ion battery on Aug. 1. The fire at the multilevel apartment complex on Oasis Way occurred when a tenant left the scooter to charge unattended, which overheated.
Lithium-ion batteries, which are a form of rechargeable batteries used in many cell phones, e-bikes, scooters, tablets, vaping devices and laptops, present fire dangers if users don’t follow product instructions.
The Plymouth Fire Department reminds the community of the following lithium-ion battery safety tips from the U.S. Fire Administration:
- Stop using lithium-ion batteries if you notice an odor, change in color, too much heat, change in shape, leaking or odd noises.
- Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash. Recycle them at your local battery recycling location.
- Store spare lithium-ion batteries away from anything that can burn.
- Do not put lithium-ion batteries in direct sunlight or keep them in hot cars. This is a fire risk.
- Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed, or on a couch.
- Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.
- Do not leave devices charging unattended.
- Do not charge lithium-ion battery devices in areas of egress, such as in front of doors, hallways or exits.
- Keep batteries at room temperature when possible. Do not charge them at temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or above 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries can be incredibly difficult to extinguish, especially due to the high heat they emit and their extreme flammability,” Chief Foley said. “Avoiding the use of these devices is near impossible, but we can all work to prevent the dangers they can present with the right safety measures.”
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