This Fire Prevention Week it’s time to “charge into safety.”
Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries is a growing risk in homes, according to a release from the Ohio Fire Marshal. These batteries power many regularly-used devices including phones, e-bikes, laptops, power tools, headphones and toys.
Bryan Fire Chief Doug Pool said the batteries are “almost everything that we’re using now.”
The batteries themselves are most likely to have problems when they are charging or when they are damaged, such as from an accident or a drop, he added.
To prevent these batteries from starting fires, he first suggested using the proper chargers and cables.
According to the fire marshal’s release, using off-brand chargers can possibly overload the battery with the potential to cause overheating.
People should also look for a stamp from a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as UL, ETL or CSA, because it means the product has met certain safety standards.
The release also suggested keeping the batteries cool by placing them on hard, nonflammable surfaces. Charging on soft surfaces such as a bed or couch can trap heat.
“Anything can overheat; you should always charge them on a non-combustibl...