Overview
- NFPA’s 2025 Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 5–11) spotlights lithium‑ion risks and has spurred local open houses, safety trainings and battery drop‑off opportunities.
- Fire agencies say incidents are climbing, with St. Pete Fire Rescue reporting that 28% of investigated fires this year involved batteries.
- Officials warn that damaged or poorly charged cells can enter thermal runaway, with fires reaching nearly 5,000 degrees and sometimes reigniting after they appear out.
- Improper disposal has triggered waste‑collection fires, including two Henrico trash‑truck blazes, leading departments to push recycling via Call2Recycle and retailer programs.
- Guidance emphasizes using manufacturer‑approved chargers, avoiding overnight or soft‑surface charging and unplugging when full, as the CPSC estimates about 5,000 battery fires annually and Orion180 counts over 25,000 overheating incidents from 2017–2022.