NORTH WELLINGTON – Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 5 to 11, and this year’s theme will be “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-ion Batteries in Your Home.”
Minto Fire administrative coordinator Stephanie Chidlow chatted with the Community News and shared tips, events and warning signs everyone should know.
“The focus is on buying, charging and recycling lithium-ion batteries in your home,” she said.
Buying
When buying lithium-ion batteries one should ensure the product has been certified by a recognized testing lab.
“Lithium-ion batteries are in so many things now … laptops, smart phones and tablets are the more obvious ones,” Chidlow said.
These batteries can also be found in:
– power tools;
– lawn tools;
– children’s toys;
– electrical bikes; and
– electrical scooters.
“[This] is definitely something we want to be proactive about,” she said.
Charging
Charging the batteries correctly means using cords the product came with and charging them on a hard surface.
“Younger users could be charging them on their beds or leaving them under their pillows, which is a safety hazard,” she said.
Chidlow also noted the importance of unplugging the product when they are fully charged as the batteries can overheat.
Recycling
Owners of lithium-ion batteries want to dispose of them appropriately at “a depot and not throwing them into your regular household garbage,” she said.
To find the closest recycling location, visit recycleyourbatteries.ca.
Never throw batteries of any kind into the trash or regular blue bins, due to potential fire hazards.
Asked if there has been an increase in lithium-ion battery fires in the county, Chidlow replied, “Fortunately it’s not something we see a lot of right now, but prevention and education is always the first line of defence.”
Something may be wrong with a lithium-ion battery if it:
– changes in appearance;
– has an odour;
– has a leak; or
– is making a noise.
“Those are all things to watch out for,” Chidlow said.
Asked if lithium-ion based fires are more dangerous, Chidlow replied, “They can be … they can explode and it can happen really fast.”
Fire training – On May 3, Mapleton, Minto and Wellington North fire services got together to tackle the Ontario Fire College Mobile Live Fire Training Unit. Community News file photos
She recommended not charging these batteries while sleeping, as “many people do.”
This year, Minto Fire, Mapleton Fire Rescue and Wellington North Service will all be hosting a Fire Prevention Week online trivia event.
“We’re doing daily trivia [and] we have a lot of great prizes that have been donated from local businesses and our community,” Chidlow said.
“We encourage people to follow along on our social media and get involved.”
Those interested can find the trivia on Facebook or Instagram @mintofiredept, @wellnorthfire and @mapletonfireres.
“We do carry the theme on for the rest of the year so people can keep an eye out for other things going on,” Chidlow said.
