
Lithium-ion batteries have become an integral part of our everyday lives, powering a wide range of devices from electric scooters to mobile phones. However, their growing prevalence also brings an increased risk of fire hazards. In this blog post, we explore a series of lithium-ion battery fire incidents, highlighting the importance of safety and community risk reduction.
The following summaries present lithium-ion battery fire incidents from late September to mid-October 2024 that underscore the risks associated with these batteries:
Battery Sparks Bin Lorry Fire Near Plymouth Pavilions
Location: Plymouth, England, UK
Summary: A fire started in the rubbish compartment of a recycling lorry near Plymouth Pavilions, likely caused by a lithium-ion battery. Firefighters used hose reel jets, a safety jet, and thermal imaging cameras to extinguish the fire and prevent reignition. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Link to original article: BBC News
Cause of Heath Town Fire Revealed as Company Responds to Blaze
Location: Wolverhampton, England, UK
Summary: A fire at the LiBatt battery recycling center was traced to rechargeable lithium-ion batteries stored in one of the seven bays. Fire crews responded swiftly, containing the blaze before it could spread further. This was the second fire at the facility within a year.
Link to original article: Express & Star
Duck Decoy Battery Suspected in Two-Home St. Thomas Fire
Location: St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
Summary: A replacement lithium-ion battery used in a hunting duck decoy device sparked a fire that severely damaged two homes. All residents escaped without injury, but the fire illustrated the dangers of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries.
Link to original article: London Free Press
Family Flees Battery Fire
Location: Killarney Heights, New South Wales, Australia
Summary: A lithium-ion battery pack for a remote-controlled car caught fire while charging in a child's bedroom, leading to the evacuation of several residents. The father managed to contain the blaze until firefighters arrived, and no injuries were reported.
Link to original article: Northern Beaches Advocate
FDNY: No Injuries Reported in East New York Scooter Fire
Location: East New York, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Summary: A fire involving a scooter powered by a lithium-ion battery was reported. The FDNY successfully contained the blaze, and no injuries or other damages were reported.
Link to original article: News 12 Brooklyn
Handy Fan Fire Burns Passenger's Shirt on MTR Train
Location: Yau Tong, Hong Kong
Summary: A lithium-ion battery in a portable fan caught fire on an MTR train, causing burns to a nearby passenger. Fortunately, the fire did not disrupt train services.
Link to original article: The Standard
Hernando County Fire Rescue Fights Multiple Vehicle Fires
Location: Hernando County, Florida, USA
Summary: Several fires, including vehicle and structure fires, were reported during Hurricane Helene. Lithium-ion batteries were found to be the cause of four structure fires, highlighting the additional risks posed by saltwater exposure.
Link to original article: WTSP News
Lithium Battery Sparks Weekend Grass Fire; Fire Officials Share How to Dispose Damaged Batteries
Location: Sulphur, Louisiana, USA
Summary: A grass fire in Sulphur was ignited by a compromised lithium-ion battery from a vape pipe. Fire officials provided safe disposal practices, stressing the importance of proper handling to prevent similar incidents.
Link to original article: KPLC News
Lithium-Ion 'Jump Pack' Started Hangar Fire
Location: Minden, Nevada, USA
Summary: An overheated lithium-ion "jump pack" caused a fire in two hangars at Minden Tahoe Airport. A sprinkler system activated, containing the blaze and minimizing damage.
Link to original article: The Record Courier
Lithium-Ion Battery Sparks Southwest DC Fire
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Summary: A fire in a fifth-floor apartment was caused by a lithium-ion battery in a mobile device. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, and no injuries were reported.
Link to original article: Yahoo News
Patronis Confirms 16 Lithium-Ion Battery Fires Related to Hurricane Helene Storm Surge
Location: Florida, USA
Summary: Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis confirmed 16 lithium-ion battery fires related to Hurricane Helene. Saltwater exposure to electric vehicles and other devices posed a significant risk, leading to multiple fires.
Link to original article: News4JAX
Punta Gorda Man Dies in Mobile Home Fire
Location: Punta Gorda, Florida, USA
Summary: A mobile home fire caused by floodwaters reaching a lithium-ion battery charger led to the death of an elderly man. The tragedy illustrates the critical importance of battery safety in disaster situations.
Link to original article: MySuncoast News
Tulsa Fire Department Urges Proper Portable Charger Disposal After Car Fire
Location: McKinney, Texas, USA
Summary: A portable charger left inside a car caused a fire that totaled the vehicle. The Tulsa Fire Department emphasized the risks of improperly disposing of lithium-ion batteries and the importance of recycling.
Link to original article: KTUL News
Understanding the Risks of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries, while incredibly efficient, pose significant risks if not handled correctly. Their high energy density, the very feature that makes them so convenient for everyday use, also means that mishandling or defects can lead to overheating, fires, or even explosions. Thermal runaway, a process where a battery self-heats to a point that ignites a fire, is a primary risk factor. This often leads to fires that can be difficult to extinguish, as seen in the incidents above.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA, 2022) and other safety organizations provide critical guidelines for minimizing these risks, including purchasing certified products, using appropriate chargers, avoiding charging in unsafe locations (e.g., on beds or couches), and recycling batteries properly(NFPA, 2022).
Preventative Measures and Safety Guidelines
From the Take Charge of Battery Safety Fact Sheet by Underwriters Laboratories, it is advised to always handle lithium-ion batteries carefully, follow the manufacturer's instructions, and avoid modifying batteries or chargers. Safety guidelines emphasize the importance of keeping batteries away from extreme temperatures and not charging them overnight or near exits (Underwriters Laboratories, 2023).
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 2024) also highlights the importance of properly disposing of used lithium-ion batteries, advising against placing them in household trash or municipal recycling bins. Instead, these batteries should be taken to certified recycling centers to prevent fires and recover critical materials (EPA, 2024).
Conclusion
Lithium-ion batteries are widespread in modern life, but with their widespread use comes the need for heightened safety awareness. Each of the incidents outlined above serves as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with improper handling or disposal of these batteries. By following safety protocols, purchasing certified devices, and ensuring proper disposal, we can mitigate the risks and help prevent these dangerous incidents.
References
BBC News. (2024, October 5). Battery sparks bin lorry fire near Plymouth Pavilions. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cje3z0wpqxko
Express & Star. (2024, October 2). Cause of Heath Town fire revealed as company responds to blaze. https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2024/10/02/cause-of-heath-town-fire-revealed-as-company-responds-to-blaze
KPLC News. (2024, October 9). Lithium battery sparks weekend grass fire; Fire officials share how to dispose damaged batteries. https://www.kplctv.com/2024/10/09/lithium-battery-sparks-weekend-grass-fire-fire-officials-share-how-dispose-damaged-batteries
London Free Press. (2024, October 5). Duck decoy battery suspected in two-home St. Thomas fire. https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/duck-decoy-battery-suspected-in-two-home-st-thomas-fire
MySuncoast News. (2024, October 2). Punta Gorda man dies in mobile home fire. https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/10/02/punta-gorda-man-dies-mobile-home-fire
News 12 Brooklyn. (2024, October 5). FDNY: No injuries reported in East New York scooter fire. https://brooklyn.news12.com/fdny-no-one-injuries-reported-in-east-new-york-scooter-fire
News4JAX. (2024, October 2). Patronis confirms 16 lithium-ion battery fires related to Hurricane Helene storm surge. https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2024/10/02/patronis-confirms-16-lithium-ion-battery-fires-related-to-hurricane-helene-storm-surge
Northern Beaches Advocate. (2024, October 6). Family flees battery fire. https://www.northernbeachesadvocate.com.au/2024/10/06/family-flees-battery-fire
Take Charge of Battery Safety Fact Sheet. (2023). Underwriters Laboratories. https://batteryfiresafety.org
The Record Courier. (2024, October 11). Lithium-ion 'jump pack' started hangar fire. https://www.recordcourier.com/news/2024/oct/11/lithium-ion-jump-pack-started-hangar-fire
The Standard. (2024, October 5). Handy fan fire burns passenger's shirt on MTR train. https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/221081/Handy-fan-fire-burns-passenger%27s-shirt-on-MTR-train
WTSP News. (2024, October 10). Hernando County Fire Rescue fights multiple vehicle fires. https://www.wtsp.com/article/weather/hurricane/helene/hernando-county-ion-battery-fires-helene/67-692d9014-b044-4d99-ac3a-7a9f5314a957
Yahoo News. (2024, October 5). Lithium-ion battery sparks Southwest DC fire. https://www.yahoo.com/news/lithium-ion-battery-sparks-southwest-013217457.html
KTUL News. (2024, October 5). Tulsa Fire Department urges proper portable charger disposal after car fire. https://ktul.com/news/local/tulsa-fire-department-urges-proper-portable-charger-disposal-after-car-fire
EPA. (2024). Used lithium-ion batteries. United States Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/recycle/used-lithium-ion-batteries
National Fire Protection Association. (2022). Lithium-ion battery safety. NFPA. https://www.nfpa.org/education
Take Charge of Battery Safety Fact Sheet. (2023). Underwriters Laboratories. https://batteryfiresafety.org
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