Lithium-ion batteries power phones, laptops, tablets, e-bikes, e-scooters, power tools, hand warmers, and dozens of other products in the average American home. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that all of these batteries carry a common risk — a process called thermal runaway — and that the fires it produces are among the most dangerous and fastest-spreading residential fires seen today.
What Is Thermal Runaway
Thermal runaway is a chain reaction inside a lithium-ion battery in which a single failing cell generates heat, which causes adjacent cells to fail, which generates more heat, which accelerates the reaction. Once thermal runaway begins, it cannot be stopped by conventional means. The battery produces intense heat and toxic gases and can burst into flames within seconds. Water does not extinguish a lithium battery fire — it can actually intensify it.
CPSC data show lithium battery fires from e-bikes alone have killed people, injured dozens, and burned apartment buildings in cities across the country. But the same risk exists in every lithium-powered device, including the phone charging on your nightstand and the laptop in your child’s room.
The Triggers
CPSC identifies the most common triggers of lithium battery thermal runaway as: physical damage to the battery from dropping or crushing, overcharging from using the wrong charger or leaving a device plugged in past full charge, exposure to high heat, manufacturing defects in lower-cost or counterfeit battery cells, and using a non-manufacturer-approved charger.
Safe Use Rules for Every Lithium Device in Your Home
- Never charge any lithium-powered device overnight or while you are asleep.
- Always use the charger that came with the product or a replacement explicitly approved by the manufacturer.
- Never charge a lithium device on a bed, sofa, or surface that can catch fire.
- Do not leave any lithium device charging unattended for extended periods.
- If a device becomes unusually hot, swells, produces a burning smell, or makes a hissing sound, move it outside immediately and call 911.
- Install a working smoke alarm in every room where lithium devices are charged or stored.
- Check SaferProducts.gov for any lithium-powered product you own to verify it has not been recalled.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, visit SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772.
Source: https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Micromobility-Information-Center
