Fire Prevention Week runs across Canada from Oct. 4 to 10.
According to local fire department officials, this year’s theme is “Charge into Fire Safety.”
Paul Calleja, deputy fire chief with the Huntsville Fire Department, said the week aims to raise awareness about how people can charge their devices safely.
He said many of the devices people use nowadays are powered by lithium-ion batteries. This includes smartphones, laptops, cordless power tools, e-bikes, and a wide range of other electronic devices.
“Having lithium batteries is not the problem. The problem is how do we handle them? How do we store them? What do we do with them?” he said.
Calleja said mishandling devices, such as dropping a power tool or exposing a smartphone to excessive heat by leaving it on a car dashboard, can damage the battery and compromise its integrity.
Additionally, he said a malfunctioning charger could cause a battery to overcharge, potentially triggering a chain reaction that increases its temperature and creates a safety hazard while the battery is being stored for later use.
He said a thermal runaway is an uncontrollable chain reaction where an increase in temperature causes a faster reaction rate, which releases even more heat and toxic
If residents notice a battery expanding or changing shape, becoming excessively hot, leaking fluids, or making hissing or popping sounds, Calleja said they should leave the area immediately and call 911.
Jonathan Taylor, fire prevention officer with the Bracebridge Fire Department, said fires caused by battery-powered devices have increased over the years.
“We have been lucky here in Bracebridge that we have not seen too many incidents revolving around lithium-ion batteries,” he said. “They are increasing across the province, across Canada and across the whole world.”
Taylor also said the week aims to raise awareness about the proper disposal of batteries.
He said lithium batteries should never ever just be thrown in the general trash; instead, they should be taken either to a local hazardous material depot or an e-recycler.
