Fire Official: 3 Pets Lucky to Escape Lithium Battery Fire

A lithium battery fire started in a family's Tulsa, Oklahoma living room in an unusual way recently. One of the family's dogs chewed on a power bank that contained a lithium-ion battery. The power bank began to spark, causing the dog to back away. Then, the battery flared and went up in flames on a large dog bed.

Fortunately, the family's dogs and cat were all able to escape the fire through the dog door.

From the video: 

"Lithium-ion batteries are known for storing a significant amount of energy in a compact space. However, when this energy is released uncontrollably, it can generate heat, produce flammable and toxic gases, and even lead to explosions. These incidents can occur due to various reasons, such as exposure to extreme heat, physical damage to the battery, overcharging, or even using incompatible charging equipment...

Just recently, a home fire in the Tulsa area was sparked by a pet chewing through the housing of a portable lithium-ion battery intended for charging cell-phones. Many individuals keep these batteries within their homes for convenience, unaware of the potential danger..."

Andrew Little, Public Information Officer for Tulsa FD

DOT Lithium Battery Safety Meeting on 8/27

US DOT is hosting a virtual meeting on August 27, 2024. Representatives from DOT and other agencies and organizations will discuss electric vehicles (EVs), and fire safety topics related to lithium-ion batteries.

The format will include presentations with an opportunity for the audience to ask questions after each topic. Topics include:

• Stranded energy
• Fire incident response
• Heavy vehicle consideration
• Damaged EV response
• EV water immersion
• Emerging battery technologies

Registration is free but required for all attendees.

The meeting is scheduled for 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM ET August 27, 2024.

Agenda:

Live Webinar: Shipping Lithium Batteries

Lion's Shipping Lithium Batteries training webinar prepares shippers to navigate and apply the regulations for shipping lithium batteries alone, in-equipment, or with-equipment by ground, air, and vessel, including the latest IATA DGR standards for air shippers in effect for 2024.

The course provides hazmat general awareness, security awareness, and function-specific training to help satisfy US DOT (49 CFR), IATA DGR, and IMDG Code training mandates for logistics leaders and hazmat employees involved in shipping lithium batteries by all modes of transportation.

Tags: lithium batteries