An Oklahoma fire department has shared dramatic video of a fire sparking as a dog chews through a lithium-ion battery—a warning to consumers to handle these popular power sources correctly.
“Fire departments all over the country are seeing fires related to these batteries and we want the public to learn about usage, safe storage and proper disposal of these potentially dangerous batteries,” Tulsa Fire Department public information officer Andy Little says in a video posted to the department’s Facebook page that incorporates the fire footage taken from an indoor home-monitoring system. You can see it at the .45 mark in the video below.
The clip shows a white pup carrying a portable phone charger in its mouth to what appears to be a pet bed on the floor. The dog rests on the mattress and chews on the battery’s cord and casing, when suddenly the gadget emits smoke and sparks until the bed catches fire. The dog and two other household pets, another canine and a cat, jump back alarmed and unsure what to make of the flames.
“Fortunately, the pets involved were able to escape unharmed through a dog door,” Little says in the video. “It could have been much worse if there had been no means of escape or if the family was asleep at the time.”
Lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous, powering everything from phones, laptops and electric toothbrushes to hybrid and electric vehicles. They’re favored for being lightweight and rechargeable. Plus, they generally last longer than alkaline batteries.
They’re also energy-dense. But as Little notes, this benefit sometimes comes with a serious down side.
“Lithium-ion batteries are known for storing a significant amount of energy in a compact space,” he said. “However, when this energy is released uncontrollably, it can generate heat, produce flammable and toxic gases and even lead to explosions.”
These incidents, he notes, can occur due to various conditions: exposure to extreme heat, physical damage to a battery, overcharging or even using charging equipment that’s incompatible with a device. Some of the most widely publicized cases of fires related to lithium-ion batteries have occurred on airplanes. The Federal Aviation Administration even keeps a running tally of lithium battery events that it’s aware of involving smoke, fire or extreme heat.
Tips For Lithium-Ion Battery Safety
Fortunately, it’s easy to find consistent information on how to handle lithium-ion batteries safely. Here’s the National Fire Protection Association’s advice:
-Only buy lithium-ion batteries listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory and labeled as such.
-Ideally, use only the charging equipment supplied with a device.
-Stop charging a battery once it’s full.
-Don’t store batteries in extremely hot or cold places or in areas that block a room’s exit.
-Don’t dispose of lithium-ion batteries in household garbage or recycling bins.
-Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling or a change in color.
-Don’t try to modify a battery or charger.
-Have all repairs performed by a qualified professional.
While the pets survived the fire near Tulsa, it did cause “significant damage” to the house, according to the Tulsa Fire Department. The blaze ocurred in May, but its cautionary message is timeless: Understand how your electronics work and use them correctly.