Lithium-ion batteries power many different household devices from cellphones to e-bikes, but no matter the size, they all pose a significant safety risk.
According to Pasco Fire Department Fire Chief Ben Shearer, fires caused by lithium-ion batteries are not uncommon.
“It’s not just a little spark in your living room. When they go bad, they actually cause a big fire, a big explosion. Lots of power behind them and lots of energy stored in them, so that makes a very big fire very quickly,” said Shearer.
According to Shearer, these fires are more common when someone purchases cheaper or off-brand alternatives for things like power tools or laptop batteries. However, these fires can occur with any lithium-ion battery.
According to Shearer, these batteries store a large amount of energy and power in a small battery.