HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Fire Department is reminding residents to be cautious when charging and disposing of lithium-ion batteries as part of National Fire Prevention Week, which runs Oct. 5–11.
This year’s national theme, “Charge Into Fire Safety”, focuses on preventing fires linked to lithium-ion batteries found in everyday devices such as phones, laptops, power tools and even lawn equipment.
“Each year, of course, we have a theme, and this year it’s ‘Charging to Fire Safety,'" Fire Marshal Michael Cain said. "We Saw this one coming for quite some time. This is all about safety with the lithium-ion batteries that have become quite an issue here over the past few years.”
Cain said the department is focusing on three key steps: buy, charge and recycle. “The theme, there’s three steps with these batteries that we’re going to hit on this week, buy, charge and recycle,” Cain said. “Buy listed products for those batteries. Buy listed charging cables and accessories. It’s very easy to get them cheap online, but they’re not made for the product that you have, so they’re not going to work well. Once you start charging, it doesn’t work well, you’re going to start overheating that battery. You’re going to send it into thermal runaway. That’s where the problem comes in with starting just, overheat and explode.”
Cain said residents should only charge devices when they are physically nearby and avoid leaving items plugged in overnight. “You should charge it when you are there, physically there with it,” Cain said. “Once it reaches 100 percent, take it off. And unplug that charging cord. Don’t leave that plugged in. It’s just like an extension cord at home, and that’s become the problem, much like we’ve always talked about the cheap extension cords in the home causing most of the fires that we have.”
The National Fire Prevention Week campaign began in 1922 and is the longest-running public health observance in the United States. Cain said this year’s topic is particularly relevant as lithium-ion batteries are now found in nearly everything, from power tools and e-bikes to children’s toys.
“They are in everything from phones to computers to lawn mowers, drills, weed eaters, and of course, cars,” Cain said. “They can’t go in the trash. They can’t go out to the landfill in the regular trash. They’ve got to be recycled.”
Residents can safely dispose of used batteries at the Reno County Landfill’s Household Hazardous Waste facility, or at local retailers such as Harbor Freight, Lowe’s and Home Depot.
Cain also reminded residents to check their fire extinguishers at least once a year, noting that even unused units can become compacted and ineffective over time. “Just like that box of baking soda in the cupboard — you pull it out one day and it’s a brick because it’s compacted down,” he said. “Same thing happens in those extinguishers over time. Once a year, they need to be taken down, fluffed up and recharged so that they work.”
The Hutchinson Fire Department will continue public outreach throughout the week, emphasizing battery safety, proper disposal practices and home fire prevention.
“It’s hard to change habits, but just being aware, charging safely, unplugging, and recycling batteries properly, can make a huge difference,” Cain said.
For more information on Fire Prevention Week and local recycling options, visit nfpa.org/fpw or contact the Hutchinson Fire Department.