The Mason Fire Department is urging residents to rethink how they charge everyday devices, warning that damaged or improperly charged lithium-ion batteries can overheat, catch fire or explode.
The department announced its partnership with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for Fire Prevention Week, which runs through Saturday, Oct. 10. This year's national theme is "Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower."
It is the second straight year the NFPA has centered the campaign on lithium-ion battery fires. The association does not yet track the number of U.S. home fires involving these batteries but said fire departments are reporting a growing number of incidents.
The risks are not hypothetical. Phones, tablets, laptops, power tools, e-bikes and scooters all run on lithium-ion batteries. According to NFPA lesson materials, large devices like e-bikes and scooters can cause fast-moving, highly toxic fires if their batteries fail and enter "thermal runaway," a chain reaction that causes rapid, uncontrollable overheating.
Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of outreach and advocacy, said in a Sept. 23 statement that not everyone understands the dangers lithium-ion batteries can pose, especially around charging. The campaign aims to help people build simple habits that reduce those risks.
The NFPA is promoting six safety tips this year:
- Use only the charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer.
- Charge on a hard, flat surface. Beds, couches and pillows trap heat.
- Stop using a device that feels very hot, swells, smokes or smells strange.
- Unplug devices once fully charged.
- Charge e-bikes, scooters and power tools outside, away from exits.
- On planes, keep charging devices in sight. Do not charge them or e-cigarettes in overhead bins.
Fire Prevention Week is the longest-running public health observance in the United States. The NFPA has sponsored it for more than 100 years, marking the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
The city posted the announcement on Monday, Oct. 5. Residents can find additional battery safety resources on the NFPA's Fire Prevention Week page.
