Fire Prevention Week Focus: Lithium Ion Battery Safety

As the nation marks Fire Prevention Week starting on Sunday, County Executive Ken Jenkins and the Department of Emergency Services are reminding residents of the fire danger posed by the improper use of lithium ion batteries.

Jenkins said, “The theme of Fire Prevention Week this year is ‘Charge Into Fire Safety’ and it serves as a great reminder of the need to safely use, store and charge devices that are powered by lithium ion batteries. Westchester has seen its share of serious fires caused by lithium ion batteries when the proper precautions were not taken.”

Emergency Services Commissioner Susan Spear said lithium ion batteries can be found in a wide range of every day devices, including cell phones, laptops, tablets, cordless power tools, cordless vacuums, e-bikes and e-cigarettes. She offered the following lithium ion battery safety tips:

·         Do not charge any device under a pillow, on a bed, or on a couch or arm chair ­– only charge them on a hard, flat surface such as a desk or table;

·         Keep batteries at room temperature and avoid placing them in direct sunlight or in a hot car;

·         Store batteries away from anything flammable;

·         Do not leave batteries and devices unattended when charging;

·         Only use the battery and charging cord that came with the device.

Spear said it was important to stop using any battery that begins emitting an unusual odor, leaking, changing shape or making unusual noises.

“If you can do so safely, unplug the device if it is charging, move the device away from anything flammable and call 911,” she said.

Douglas Stiller, the chief of special operations at DES, said that lithium ion battery fires occur during a process known as thermal runaway. This causes the battery to burst into flames and even explode. Highly toxic and highly flammable gases are emitted during thermal runaway.

“If thermal runaway occurs, you need to leave that area as fast as possible,” Stiller said.

Spear noted that many local fire departments host open houses during Fire Prevention Week and provide valuable information about how to prevent fires, including lithium ion battery fires. She encouraged residents to attend these events, meet their local firefighters and obtain guidance on how they can keep their families safe.

Louis Vetrone, first deputy commissioner of the Department of Environmental Facilities, said lithium ion batteries should never be disposed of with household trash. Westchester residents can make an appointment to dispose of these batteries at the County’s Hazardous Materials Recovery Facility in Valhalla. To do so, go to environment.westchestergov.com.

Vetrone said residents with questions about lithium ion and other batteries can call the County’s recycling help line at 914-813-5425.