You probably have a lot more lithium-ion batteries in your house than you think.
Electronics like laptops, tools, electric toothbrushes and cell phones are all powered using lithium-ion batteries. Their high energy capacity and long lifespans make them popular with manufacturers.
But when lithium batteries overheat or get damaged, they can quickly start fires.
This week in Tulsa, an indoor camera caught the exact moment one of these fires started. A dog was chewing on a phone battery pack. When the pack was punctured, it lit up in flames.
As the fire grew, the battery-biting dog and two other pets in the house were able to escape safely through a dog door. No one was hurt this time, but according to the Tulsa Fire Department, lithium battery fires are becoming more common.
Tulsa Fire Department spokesperson Andy Little has tips for preventing future incidents.
“Please make sure that you keep them in a safe place where pets and children can't access them, and just treat them like a tool that could potentially be dangerous,” Little said.
The homeowner agreed to let the department use her camera footage, so others could learn from the fire.
Little said most lithium battery fires happen because of improper replacement charging cables or damaged casing.
“Lithium-ion batteries are very useful, but they can be very dangerous,” Little said, “so it is very important that people read those manufacturer recommendations [and] make sure they charge them somewhere safe.”
Along with properly storing and using household electronics, Little said special care must be taken when throwing them out. He said batteries have also ignited fires in recycling bins and landfills.
“With the reports that we're getting, we know that if those [batteries] are crushed or damaged, they can cause a fire,” Little said. “So when you have all of these contents in a landfill, the likelihood of that battery being the cause is pretty high.”
According to Little, camera footage has confirmed at least one battery fire at a Tulsa recycling plant, but he suspects it is one of many.
