People should store lithium-ion batteries in cool, dry places; refrain from charging them on soft surfaces such as sofas and use only certified chargers intended for their devices.
Those are among the tips from fire officials in the wake of two shed and garage fires in Windsor this summer believed to be connected to lithium-ion batteries.
"If they're out in the garage … when you get a … 37-degree day, you know that that's going to add to the heat," said John Smith, the chief fire prevention officer with Windsor Fire and Rescue Services.
Fire officials believe an Aug. 7 fire on South Pacific Avenue was caused by batteries charging in the shed, Smith told CBC News.
The fire levelled the shed and extended to the home, causing an estimated $250,000 in damages.
A June fire on Moy Avenue that injured one man was also attributed to faulty lithium-ion batteries.
Tips to avoid fires
The batteries can be found in a wide range of commonly-used devices from laptops and cell phones to cordless power tools, electric bicycles and scooters.
The Fire Marshal's Public Safety Council has set up a website to educate the public about lithium-ion battery safety.
It recommends:
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Never exceeding the suggested charge time.
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Never using off-brand batteries or charging cords.
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Never attempting to modify, tamper with, or build lithium-ion batteries.
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Never placing the batteries in the garbage.
The Amherstburg fire department, which has shared the council's campaign on social media, hasn't noticed any problems with the batteries as long as people are using products manufactured by reputable companies that are properly certified, Chief Michael Mio said.
People should look for products approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSU) or Underwriter Laboratories (cUL), he said.
Problems arise when people purchase products that aren't properly tested or certified – sometimes in an effort to save money – or when they attempt to use chargers that aren't designed for the specific product they're trying to charge, Mio said.
"A battery from one system put into a charger of another system, even though they're compatible, might not work on the same amperage," he said.
Ontario's deputy fire marshal of training, certification and public education said people should avoid using batteries that are leaking, swollen or giving off a strange odour.
Those are signs of failure, John McBeth said.
They should store batteries in a cool, dry place, because they generate their own heat, he added.
"Anything we can do to mitigate excessive temperatures around the vicinity of these batteries is definitely going to assist with their longevity and their safe operation," McBeth said.
He also emphasized the need to charge devices on hard surfaces.
"Oftentimes we see that teens will charge their cell phones at night and throw it on the pillow," McBeth said.
"These devices can get quite hot when they are charging, and the potential for fire is definitely there."
People who do witness a fire involving a lithium-ion battery should go outside immediately and call 911 from outside; they should not attempt to put out the fire with water or anything else," McBeth said.
The batteries, he said, are too unpredictable.
"Trying to fight a fire on your own – you could be putting yourself in severe danger if that battery does explode or cause some significant fire to escalate quite quickly," he said.