How to Prevent Lithium-Ion Battery Fires

We look at a simple battery than can be a major fire hazard. Then, the state aims to keep funding for health care. And, an organic conference returns to central Minnesota.
—–Executive Producer: Victor Palomino Producer: Faaya AdemAnchor: Chantel SinGsReader scripting: Victor PalominoFact checking: Joel Glaser, Victor Palomino Editorial support: Emily Krumberger Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

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Transcript

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HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.

ANCHOR: We look at a simple battery than can be a major fire hazard. Then, the state aims to keep funding for health care. And, an organic conference returns to central Minnesota.

I'm Chantel SinGs.

Minnesota's Attorney General joined 21 attorneys general from other states in supporting Planned Parenthood's lawsuit against the Trump administration's efforts to block federal Medicaid funding. The lawsuit alleges that the so-called "Defund Provision" would cut access to essential healthcare services like cancer screenings and birth control. The coalition's brief urges the First Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a lower court ruling that blocked the funding ban.

Next, Lithium-ion batteries power everything from phones to e-bikes, but they can also pose serious fire risks if handled incorrectly. Reporter Faaya Adem tells us how to prevent these fires.

Faaya Adem: Recently, the life of the Freeman family was changed completely. Their home in Woodbury, east of St Paul, caught on fire. The cause? A lithium-ion battery explosion.

Patty Freeman: We're still in bed. It was about eight o'clock in the morning. We hadn't even woken up yet.

Faaya Adem: Patty Freeman says the fire was caused by human error after her son tried to charge the battery.

Patty Freeman: We kind of guessed right away that it was a lithium battery, because of where the fire started, in the basement. Within 20 minutes of him plugging in the battery, it exploded.

Faaya Adem: Lithium-ion batteries, a type of rechargeable battery characterized by higher energy efficiency and a longer cycle life than other types of rechargeable batteries, are in many of today's devices, like cell phones, laptops, lawn tools and even children's toys. Yet many people don't know about the battery's hidden risk.

Daniel Krier: We see that lithium-ion batteries could be charged incorrectly. They may have physical damage to them.

Faaya Adem: Daniel Krier is a state fire marshal. He says using non-certified chargers and knock off batteries increases the risk of lithium-ion batteries exploding or catching on fire.

Daniel Krier: With modern conveniences, it can be easy to buy the cheap product or the easiest to grab product off the shelf or the online store. Those don't necessarily always come with the same testing and safety features that the original manufacturer provides.

Faaya Adem: All fires give off toxic smoke, but lithium-ion battery fires are different. The metals and plastics inside can release even more dangerous chemicals, such as cyanide, into the air. To help prevent these kinds of fires, there are a few simple safety steps you can take. Buy only products with a safety mark from a nationally recognized testing lab, which ensures they meet safety standards. Use only chargers approved by the manufacturer for that specific device. Avoid charging items when you're not home, and place devices on a flat surface away from anything flammable. Store batteries in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

Daniel Krier: If we can change those and influence those behaviors to where people are purchasing a product that's going to keep it safe, a charger that's safe, a cord that's going to that's been rated for that battery, that will definitely prevent and lower a lot of risk from more of these batteries being on the market.

Faaya Adem: For more fire prevention tips, visit your local fire department's website or dps.mn.gov. For North Star Stories, I'm Faaya Adem.

Anchor: You are listening to North Star Stories.

The Minnesota Organic Conference is returning to St. Cloud next year. Hosted by the Department of Agriculture, the event will feature more than 30 breakout sessions and an 80-booth trade show focused on organic farming and research. The keynote speaker will share strategies for improving soil health and farm resilience, and a new farmer-led panel will explore the future of organic agriculture. Registration is now open for participants. For details, visit the Minnesota Organic Conference website.

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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.