Take C.H.A.R.G.E. of Battery Safety

Fire departments worldwide continue to face increased fire incidents caused by lithium-ion (Li-ion)  battery-powered devices. The unique characteristics of this relatively new technology can mean that the failure of a single cell can trigger thermal runaway, resulting in a fire or even gas explosions. The rapid growth of thermal runaway in these batteries outpaces that of a typical fire. Occupants may have as little as three minutes to escape a home fire. With incidents involving Li-ion batteries, that escape time can be reduced to less than one minute. With this decreased escape time, there’s an even greater urgency to educate the fire service and public about the danger and how to minimize the associated risks.

FSRI’s 2023 public safety education campaign focused specifically on micromobility devices, given a high volume of fire incidents involving these devices, particularly in New York City, and a dire need to raise awareness of risks and provide actionable information to the public. 

While micromobility device issues are the most well-known because they are widely unregulated and the fires involving them have had serious consequences, there is a disconnect for a large portion of the population who do not have micromobility devices and therefore do not consider themselves at risk. Both the U.S. fire service and the public continue to possess a limited understanding of the abundance of these types of batteries present in their daily lives, their potential for toxic smoke and fire, and the appropriate safety measures to prevent or respond to these types of fires. 

To build upon the 2023 campaign, FSRI is expanding its message beyond micromobility devices in order to raise awareness of the sheer volume of lithium-ion batteries present in our everyday life and ways to use and enjoy those devices safely. FSRI aims to help make the connection between the size of the battery, or the number of cells within it, its energy potential, the potential hazard, and the impact on the residential fire environment. 

Lithium-ion Battery Safety

FSRI’s “Take C.H.A.R.G.E. of Battery Safety” campaign highlights six main messages aimed at driving safe behaviors among the public related to the use of lithium-ion battery devices. To learn more, visit our website.

“FSRI is continuing our tradition of developing actionable public safety messaging based on our scientific research. As the use of lithium-ion battery-powered devices increases in our daily lives, so will our exposure to the associated hazards. Through the ‘Take C.H.A.R.G.E. of Battery Safety’ campaign, we aim to impact behavior change by partnering with the fire service to educate the public on key actions they can take to prevent these fires from occurring in the first place and, in the event a fire does occur, how to respond.”

- Dawn Ey, Director of Research Amplification of FSRI

Objectives

• Provide the public and the fire service with key actions and turnkey resources that will help drive best practice behavior to prevent and minimize the hazards of lithium-ion battery fires.
• Educate the fire service about the fire dynamics of lithium-ion battery fires so they are aware of operational best practices to address these fires and are comfortable educating their communities about evidence-based safety measures. 
• Drive national media attention to the issue and amplify the key messages to encourage behavior change.

Through our research, like the collaborative study, ''Examining the Fire Safety Hazards of Lithium-Ion Battery Powered E-Mobility Devices in Homes,'' we are furthering our operational knowledge of how lithium-ion battery-related fires are different from traditional fires. This knowledge, paired with public education about the evolving battery landscape, is pivotal in advancing safety for both the community and firefighters.