Lithium-ion battery related fires on the rise in Loudoun-Fire Chief
Fires caused by charging lithium ion battery packs used in smart phones, electric cars, laptops and related devices are "a cause for alarm," not just in Loudoun County, but for the nation in general, Loudoun Fire and Rescue Chief Keith Johnson told the Board of Supervisors Sept. 6.
"Lithium ion battery fires have become a cause of alarm for the fire service," Johnson said.
Between May 2021 and September 2022, Johnson noted that LCFR has responded to eight fires related to lithium ion battery charging that have resulted in $11.8 million in total damages. This includes $5 million in damages arising from a
May 3 fire incident in Leesburg involving the charging of a lithium ion battery pack. In April, an Ashburn garage fire also was caused by a lithium battery malfunction during the charging of an electric vehicle, resulting in $15,000 in damages and displacement of one individual.
Lithium batteries are increasingly used to power laptops, cell phones, electric bikes and scooters, remote-controlled cars, drones, hoverboards and e-cigarettes. In addition, a nationwide push to move away from gasoline fueled motor cars to electric cars has led to their use as well. However, Johnson noted, iPhone charging is not as much a issue in Loudoun as are charging of hoverboards, e-bikes and e-scooters.
The main problem with lithium ion technology is that these battery packs have a tendency to overheat and spontaneously combust when charging, Johnson explained.
"Often people will plug their e-bike, their e-scooter, their hoverboard or whatever device they are using.. .into the charging system of their home. They plug it in and forget about it. They leave it on the workbench, they leave it in the garage, they charge it in bedroom of the home," he said. "You absolutely can't do that; you have to monitor the battery while its being charged."
Between 2017 and 2019, a
US Fire Administration report found that misuse of a product or material, such as placing it too close to a heat source, operational deficiency from unattended equipment and electrical malfunction accounted for 77% of non-confined fires in residential buildings.
A day after Johnson delivered his remarks, the county's fire and rescue team found itself responding to a fire blazing out of a third story window at the back of an apartment building in the 1100 block of Huntsman Terrace in northeast Leesburg. The fire was sparked by an electrical malfunction due to the use of an incompatible smart phone charger and cord.
Although no occupants were injured in the six units making up the three-story building, LCFR estimates $250,000 in damages to the unit in question and roughly $625,000 in total damages to all six units, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Bragiel.
Bragiel said the Sept. 7 fire underscores the need to educate the public about being aware of the dangers of leaving battery charging unsupervised.
During the board business meeting, Johnson said the five boroughs of New York City reported 126 fires related to lithium ion battery charging between Jan. 1 and Aug. 15 of this year, marking a 233% increase over the prior year. Until May of this year, New York had recorded 18 fires involving 66 injuries and five deaths. The situation has gotten so bad that the city is considering banning e-bikes and e-scooters, he added.
While Johnson is not recommending that Loudoun take such an extreme step as New York, he advised residents to refrain from using chargers and cables that have not been approved by the manufacturer. He emphasized the need for monitoring the charging activity at all times, making sure that a device or battery is not charged near a combustible material, such as a pillow, a bed, a mattress, or a couch. He also warned against using frayed, worn or discolored cables.
Supervisor Matt Letourneau, R-Dulles, asked whether the same advice should be followed for charging electric vehicles.
Johnson noted that lithium batteries for electric vehicles are different. However, he emphasized that people should follow the manufacturer's instructions when it comes to charging electric vehicles in response to Loudoun Supervisor Sylvia Glass, D-Broad Run, who asked what people should and can do to avoid fires related to charging such vehicles.
"The bottom line is you just can't leave the battery unattended while its being charged," he added, especially if it is being charged in a garage, a foyer or inside a bedroom.
Saying Johnson's presentation both "terrified and fascinated her," Supervisor Juli Briskman, D-Algonkian, declared that she would make sure no more phones were charged in the bedrooms.
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