VIDEO: Lithium batteries are in everything, from phones, to computers and even electric cars. But with electronics comes the risk of fire. KKCO spoke with the Grand Junction Fire Department (GJFD) about the dangers caused by lithium batteries. According to GJFD, when a fire starts from a lithium battery, it will burn for as long as it wants to. To extinguish the fire, trained fire crews try to smother the heat and the fire until it cools down.
There are a couple of things which could lead to a lithium battery becoming unsafe, such as overcharging a battery and charging a battery in a way it’s not meant to be charged. “Whether it’s a cell phone or a computer or anything with a lithium…lithium battery that charges, it’s important to read your user’s manual,” said Drik Clingman, the Community Outreach Specialist for GJFD. “Most of them say do not charge this appliance with any charging cord that it didn’t come with”
GJFD also said it’s dangerous to damage lithium batteries because they immediately put out toxic gases which can be very harmful if inhaled. If a lithium battery appliance has caught fire, GJFD advised safely evacuating away from the appliance and call the fire department.
