As National Fire Prevention Week continues, Chief Quentin Brunsvold of the Marshall Fire Department is urging residents to pay special attention to the growing risks posed by lithium-ion batteries. This yearโs Fire Prevention Week theme, โCharge Into Fire Safety,โ focuses on the safe use and handling of these common but potentially dangerous power sources.
Brunsvold praised the communityโs response to the start of Fire Prevention Week, which included households across Marshall signaling their participation in fire safety planning. โIt was a great response. Everybodyโs kind of getting used to it. Weโve been doing it now for a number of years. We just shifted it to Sunday night as a great kickoff to Fire Prevention Week, and it gets people thinking about the theme,โ he said. โEven just practicing exit drills in your home is so important because itโs a life safety thing you never plan for.โ
Lithium-ion batteries are found in a wide range of everyday devices, from cell phones and laptops to e-bikes and power tools. Brunsvold said the decision to focus on these batteries this year reflects the increasing number of incidents linked to improper use. โNormally they go kitchen safety, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, life safety stuff. This year, itโs a total change, a little curveball, and I think itโs super important,โ he said.
Chief Brunsvold warned against using low-quality batteries or unauthorized charging cables. โYou think about just how cheap they are, sometimes you get what you pay for. Having those cheap batteries and using those, and even the chargers and charging cables, itโs really important to use approved, manufacturer-recommended products,โ he said. โI get sucked in. I bought a 10-foot cable once. Charges my phone super fast, but not really thinking about it. Thatโs not a great idea.โ
