Dozens of fires in Ottawa caused by lithium-ion batteries; here’s how to stay safe

Leanne Labbee from Ottawa Fire joins us to discuss how to prevent lithium-ion battery fires.

Lithium-ion batteries are convenient ways to keep electronic devices powered and can easily be recharged, but they can also pose a fire risk if not handled properly.

Fire prevention officer Leanne Labbee from Ottawa Fire Services told CTV Your Morning Ottawa on Wednesday that these kinds of batteries have been responsible for approximately 55 fires in the last two years, including a fire on Pelham Crescent in Richmond in mid-February, and another in Orléans that was caused by a dog chewing on a battery-powered heated glove.

“What they are is they’re basically a very small spot that contains a lot of energy. That is a good thing, but also at the same time, because they have so much energy contained in a small spot, they can become hazardous if we’re damaging or misusing them,” Labbee said.

Lithium-ion batteries can be found in phones, toys, power tools, and appliances all around your home.

“They’re everywhere,” Labbee said. “We just need to know that although they’re amazing for energy, we really need to treat them with the respect they need.”

The most important tip is to make sure you’re charging your device using the charger it came with and you’re making sure the charger itself is not damaged.

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“A charger is one of the big things you never want to skimp out on. If you need to buy a new one, make sure you’re purchasing one that’s certified, one that’s going to have the correct voltage and current rate for the device that you’re using,” Labbee said. “Preferably from the manufacturer is always your best option, making sure it’s one that certified by then to help protect the device.”

If a fire breaks out, she says you should unplug the device if it’s safe to do so and, if you can, move it outside.

“And always just call 9-1-1. We’ll come out and we’ll take care of it and make sure everything is safe,” she said.

What causes a battery to burn?

Labbee says batteries catch fire due to chemical reactions that can happen very quickly.

“What happens is there would have been damage or an overcharging or something that caused the chemical reaction in it to go to what we call a thermal runaway, which basically means the heat is building up so fast in the device and it has nowhere to go, it can’t dissipate on it own,” she said. “Then, it puts it into chemical reaction, causing the smoke and the smells.”

A battery fire can start in under a minute.

Since damage is a leading contributor of battery fires, Labbee recommends keeping such devices out of reach of small children and pets, especially.

“Put it up somewhere high, keep it away from them, make sure they only have pet-friendly things to chew on,” she said.

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Labbee says if you have any questions about fire safety or prevention, you can contact [e-mail].

She’s also offering a timely reminder this weekend.

“We’re changing our clocks this weekend. So, when you change your clocks, check your smoke alarms as well,” she said.