Lithium-ion batteries caused 50 fires in 6 months. How can you protect your home?

Massachusetts alone has experienced 50 lithium-ion battery fires in the last six months. That’s more than double the national average, according to Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine.

The state Department of Fire Services created a tool for tracking lithium-ion fires — an investigative checklist that gathers basic information about how and why the fire started.

The checklist was immediately implemented by the State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit and the Fire Marshal’s Office. For the past six months, state agencies have tracked the patterns in these increasingly common fires.

In a statement, Davine said, “Investigators using the Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Checklist are getting us better data faster.”

“The tool is helpful, but the people using it are the key to its success,” he added.

But what exactly is a lithium-ion battery, and where can they be found in your home?

Lithium-ion batteries are found in many chargeable household items and vehicles. E-cigarettes, power tools, cell phones, laptops, tablets, hoverboards, and scooters are just some of the items of concern. If these items are overcharged or abused, they can start fires that “erupt in an explosion of toxic gases and flames,” according to state agencies.  

Across the state, officials have already identified certain patterns collected from the checklist. The most common cause of the fires — nine of them to be exact — were devices like scooters, e-bikes, and hoverboards. Eight fires were caused by laptops, and another eight were caused by cell phones or tablets.

In 56% of cases, the device in question was actively charging. 

A major concern for many are e-bikes. As they rise in popularity, safety has not kept up with demand. New York City has seen the worst of these e-bike fires thus far, with one fire in particular injuring eighteen children at a daycare. 

Davine offered some safety advice for those who own lithium-ion battery-powered items. 

1. Be sure you have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home.
2. Use only the original equipment manufacturer’s batteries and charging equipment. Aftermarket or generic batteries and chargers may be cheaper but are more likely to pose a burn, fire, or explosion hazard.
3. Store scooters and e-bikes outdoors if possible. If you must store them indoors, keep them and their batteries clear of doors, windows, and stairways.
4. Charge the battery directly from a wall outlet, not an extension cord or power strip. Place it on a hard and stable surface, not a bed, couch, or pillow.
5. Charge only one battery or device at a time and unplug it when it’s fully charged. Don’t allow a charged battery to continue charging.
6. If you notice changes to the battery or the device, including damage, an unusual odor, a change in color, too much heat, change in shape, leaking, smoking, or not keeping a charge, stop using it right away.
7. If and when it’s time to dispose of the battery, don’t put it in the trash.  Lithium-ion batteries should be recycled, and you can find a location to take them here.