The Lloydminster Fire Department wants residents to use Lithium-Ion batteries safely in light of a fire in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The fire started after a family pet chewed a rechargeable battery pack causing it to spark and ignite a fire. Thankfully, all the animals escaped, and no injuries were reported.
Deputy Fire Chief Kristopher Hill viewed the YouTube video and shared his thoughts on lithium in our community.
“Lithium-ion batteries are the new kind of battery; they’re everywhere. The issue with those batteries is that they store a large amount of energy in a small space,” said Hill. “If not used for the specific purpose they are designed for, they can be very dangerous; they need to be used for exactly what they are designed for.”
Hill warns that, like any product, very small amounts of these products can be defective, so they can catch fire and explode.
“The first signs of a problem would be a change in odor, bulging, or changing color; if you encounter any of these problems, please call 9-1-1,” said Hill.
A few other tips he had for the safe use and disposal of these products are:
- Only use new products that are certified by a qualified testing laboratory; we don’t recommend buying products from Temu or Amazon, for example.
- We recommend using brand names because they are normally certified.
- Put batteries in the device they are designed for immediately and only use the correct charging cord.
- Do not put any charging cables under pillows, blankets or beds.
- Keep them out of direct sunlight
- Don’t throw batteries in the trash; find a proper disposal location for them.
“We do see a lot of structure fires being started by kids or teenagers that are putting these devices when they go to sleep underneath their pillows,” stated Hill. “Firefighters are training regularly for all the new technologies out there; we carry all the necessary equipment… and we’re definitely up to date for new technologies like Lithium-Ion batteries and electric vehicles.”
The Lloydminster Fire Department also wants to remind you to ensure your smoke detectors are working by checking them monthly. You should also ensure they aren’t past their expiration date of 10 years from when they were manufactured.
According to Hill, proper disposal of smoking materials this time of year is also extremely important.
“We are seeing a lot of issues around people putting smoking material in planter pots and bark mulch, causing fires.”
Lastly, if the worst should happen and you become a victim of a house fire, he urges you never to go back inside.
“Firefighters are the ones who will go inside and rescue any pets or family that are still inside, don’t go back in,” stresses Hill. “A lot of people have sentimental stuff, but, you know, stuff can be replaced, people cannot. We want people to get out and call 911.”
Firefighters are on duty at the Department 24/7, 365 days a year; if you have questions or concerns regarding anything fire-related, you can reach the department at 306-825-6515.
Read More: Local fire crews continue work in Jasper
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