Firefighters are sounding the alarm over the rapid rise of lithium-ion battery fires.
The rechargeable batteries that power cell phones, vapes, e-bikes, scooters and even electric cars can be dangerous when they fail.
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The battery fires are posing new challenges for local firefighters who are navigating how the fight them in real time. The fires require a different approach than what’s standard because they burn hotter and longer and there’s a risk of them reigniting.
“They’re very hard to put out,” said Shawn Fallon, a hazmat engineer with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. “Lithium-ion batteries, we have to use water. We can’t use our foam, we can’t use other extinguishing agents and we have to use a lot of water.”
With the help of the JFRD Hazmat Team, News4JAX saw what happens when a lithium-ion battery is purposely overcharged through a series of staged demonstrations.
“What we’re doing is we’re taking a normal 18650 battery, right? It powers a lot of little mobility devices. We’re putting them in a series, adding a heating cartridge to simulate overcharging,” Fallon explained.
The first battery that was purposely overheated was set on a nightstand next to a bed in a controlled environment where firefighters could quickly respond. It was meant to simulate someone’s phone charging when the battery overheated and failed.
“This could be someone’s phone who’s used an improper charger, or it’s been subjected to some type of thermal energy,” Fallon said.
It took about five minutes before we observed black smoke, and then the batteries quickly exploded. The force of the explosion sent the batteries into the drywall and the batteries kept popping, igniting new fires even when we thought it was over.
“This is now becoming a new concern for firefighters,” Fallon said. “Imagine coming across that battery on that nightstand and that same reaction occurs while you’re thinking the fire is out and we’re in the room. So that’s a huge issue and we have to change our tactics for stuff like that.”
Now imagine if that explosion was a cell phone charging under your pillow or on your bed while you were lying in it. JFRD simulated what would happen in that scenario, too.
The outcome was similar. First, we saw smoke, then there was a series of explosions.
These scenarios are happening in real life, sometimes, with devastating consequences. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue is responding to more and more battery fires than ever before.
Most recently, firefighters responded to a home where a lawn mower battery caught fire in Duval County. Thankfully, the fire did not spread after the charging battery exploded.
Some people are sadly not as lucky. This past November, three people died in a Brooklyn Apartment that FDNY says was caused by two electric scooters.
“This brings our total number of people killed by these batteries, for this year alone, to 17,” FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said, speaking to reporters during a press conference.
Kavanaugh said lithium-ion batteries are like having “ticking time bombs” inside people’s homes.
JFRD also helped News4JAX simulate a scooter battery overheating while charging in a bedroom. While most people store electric scooters or bikes outside or in a garage, in places like New York City, many people store e-bikes and e-scooters indoors.
The scooter took about seven minutes to ignite. The flames and smoke were intense. The fire burned for more than five minutes with no signs of slowing down before firefighters put out the blaze.
Fallon explained that these fires would be much more dangerous in a contained building.
“It’s actually going to be worse than what we’re seeing here. Because what we have here is a ventilated building, right? No room or hallway has this much air. So those flammable vapors are able to drift away. In a hallway, that vapor is going to bank down and catch fire, could potentially have that enter hallway engulfed in seconds,” Fallon said.
This electric scooter fire, staged by the Fire Safety Research Institute, gives you a better idea of what would really happen if a battery were to catch fire inside your home.
Take C.H.A.R.G.E. of Battery Safety PSA from Fire Safety Research Institute on Vimeo.
According to research provided by UL Solutions, in 2023 at least 1,600 incidents, 611 injuries, and 115 fatalities related to lithium-ion battery fires in the US.
You can use and charge devices with lithium-ion batteries safely.
The Fire Safety Research Institute encourages consumers to take C.H.A.R.G.E.:
Choose Certified Products: When purchasing lithium-ion battery-powered devices, look for a UL safety certification – which is nationally recognized.Handle Lithium-Ion Battery Powered Devices with Care: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and only use the charging equipment that comes with the product. Do not charge larger devices overnight.Always Stay Alert for Warning Signs: Check battery-powered devices often for damage or abuse such as swelling or punctures.Recycle Devices and Batteries Properly: Responsibly dispose of old or damaged batteries and devices by taking them to the nearest battery recycling center.Get Out Quickly If There’s a Fire: Know the warning signs to look and listen for and get out if you see – or hear – them. Close doors behind you as you exit and call 9-1-1.Educate Others on Safe Practices: Help protect your friends and loved ones by sharing this information.
“If you start to buy fast chargers or things that are not designed to work with a scooter or a cell phone, or a laptop, you’re running the risk of overcharging it overheating it,” Fallon said.
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