(Spirit Lake)– National Fire Prevention Week is being observed this week. Spirit Lake Fire Chief Pat Daly tells KUOO news this year’s theme is centered around lithium batteries…
“This year it’s Safe Charging Is A Super Power. We’re going to be talking about our lithium batteries and charging them and how to do it safely.”
Daly says the safe handling of lithium batteries is becoming more and more important…
“They’re just about in everything we get any more and you get some of the bigger ones and if they start on fire and they call that thermal runaway, and there’s no stopping it, just tons and tons and tons of water.”
Daly offers this advice when purchasing an item powered by a lithium battery…
“Buy the stuff that’s listed, UL listed, and stay with, if it comes with a charger, stay with that charger. Don’t go buy a cheaper charger. Things they want you to watch for: if it starts getting hot, even though when you charge something it does get warm, but if it gets hot, if it swells, if it smells, then it’s time to get it somewhere out of the house.”
Daly adds lithium batteries should NEVER be disposed of in the trash as they’ve been known to cause fires in garbage trucks and landfills. Locally, they can be taken to the Dickinson County Regional Collection Center just east of Milford.
Daly adds the Spirit Lake Fire Department will be giving presentations to school kids as well throughout the week. More on that in upcoming newscasts.
