Buck Anderson – The Salem News, Beverly, Mass.
Sep. 16—TOPSFIELD — Late Sunday afternoon, the Topsfield Fire Department was alerted to a type of fire that is becoming all too common today.
The call came at 5:35 p.m. from the North Shore Regional 911 center of a lithium fire in a home.
The fire was caused by a lithium battery cell phone that had exploded as it was charging and set a bed on fire, according to Topsfield Fire Chief Jen Collins-Brown.
The residents were told to evacuate the Forest Road home, and the Topsfield Fire and Police departments were dispatched.
Portland (OR) Firefighters Respond to Two Fires Caused by Lithium-Ion Batteries
The Fire Department was training a new employee that afternoon and had a shift strength of three, rather than the usual two firefighter paramedics, according to Collins-Brown.
That staffing, she said, became critical as the extra man meant three firefighters, instead of the usual two on duty, responded immediately, before off-duty members were able to do so.
Lt. John Boyle, the incident commander, sized up the incident and directed the crews to extinguish the fire.
Firefighters then removed the burning bedding from the house, checked for any possible extension of the flames and ventilated the house.
One resident suffered a minor burn but declined transport to the hospital.
All personnel were clear of the scene in 45 minutes, and damage to the property and its contents was estimated to be in the vicinity of $5,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Collins-Brown commended the young people in the home who recognized a dangerous situation, called 911 and evacuated the home.
She thanked the Middleton and the Georgetown fire departments for offering assistance during the incident.
Due to the increasing incidence of fires caused by tools, electronic devices, toys and multiple other items powered by lithium-ion batteries, the Topsfield Fire Department offers these safety reminders for their use.
Purchase only devices that are listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and look for this lab’s mark on the packing and device.
Read and follow the manufacturer’s charging and storage instructions.
Store lithium batteries and the devices they power at room temperature whenever possible. Don’t leave them in a hot car, direct sunlight or in freezing temperatures.
Keep lithium-ion batteries away from combustible materials.
Store scooters and e-bikes outdoors if possible. If you must store them indoors, keep they away from doors, windows and stairways. Always keep these routes clear so you can escape, and emergency personnel can enter.
Always use the manufacturer’s battery, cord and power adapter made specifically for the device.
After-market batteries and generic accessories have been linked to serious lithium-ion fires.
Always plug the charger directly into a wall outlet, not a power strip or an extension cord.
Do not leave a device unattended while charging and disconnect it when charged. Do not overcharge it.
Charge devices on a hard, stable surface, never on a bed, couch or pillow.
Use the battery designed for your device.
Stop using the battery if it’s damaged, or you notice an unusual odor, change in color, change in shape, or it is leaking or making odd noises.
If you can do so safely, move the device or battery away from anything that can burn and call your local fire department.
Do not discard lithium-ion batteries in the trash. Recycling is your best option. You can find a recycling center by calling www.call2recycle.org/locator/.
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