October 5th through the 11th is National Fire Prevention Week, and this year's theme is “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home."

October 5th through the 11th is National Fire Prevention Week, and this year's theme is “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home."

Most electronics we use and recharge in our homes every day use lithium-ion batteries. These include things like smartphones, tablets, tools, e-cigarettes, and even toys, just to name a few. In fact, most anything that is rechargeable likely uses a lithium-ion battery.

Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue's division chief provided some helpful tips on lithium-ion powered devices in the home. 

"Try to keep it away from other items that could be combustible. You don't want to charge the batteries underneath the pillow of your bed, like with your cell phone. If you have an e-bike, you don't want to charge that near your exit. And you want to make sure that you're charging it within the conditions set by the manufacturer, usually between 32 degrees and 104 degrees."

Fires started from lithium-ion powered devices are much different from a normal fire. The batteries contain lithium-ion, which has a thermal reaction and can cause gases to spread the fire rapidly. 

"We don't want you to touch the battery at all because the battery can become extremely hot. It's emanating projectiles from the battery itself, and it's also emanating off toxic gases. We want you to call 911, and you get us rolling as quickly as possible."

When it comes to catching these dangerous fires early, Reno Fire Marshal John Beck says, "If they're starting to bulge or they're off gassing, or we smell anything, or the battery is popping or cracking, making sounds that we know are not normal. We want to make sure that we stop using that device and recycle that battery accordingly as well."

When disposing of these batteries, ensure they are safely placed in the correct receptacles.