Thursday morning, Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a fire in a Southwest Portland Neighborhood that ultimately caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages and will displace three adults until the home can be repaired and inhabited again. And just before midnight, crews in Southeast Portland responded to a fire in a multi-occupancy apartment complex that displaced eight residents and caused significant damage to the structure that will take a while to repair. What each of these responses have in common is the cause of the fire was the result of a thermal runaway of a rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery.
These batteries are woven into our lives in the 21st Century with many devices that include phones, laptop computers, toys, tools, scooters, and bicycles along with countless other objects. The rechargeable batteries certainly increase the ease and efficiency of life in the hustle and bustle world we live within but come with some significant dangers that include a thermal runaway of the encased battery cells. This thermal runaway will cause high heat, explosions, and lead to fire if the battery is located on or near combustible items. These thermal runaway situations most often occur when the battery is actively being charged but can also occur when the battery is not connected to a power source as was the case in one of the responses yesterday. It is well known that lithium-ion batteries can enter a state labeled as “Thermal Runaway”. As noted by UL Research Institutes, one of the primary risks related to lithium-ion batteries is thermal runaway. Thermal runaway is a phenomenon in which the lithium-ion cell enters an uncontrollable, self-heating state. Thermal runaway can result in extremely high temperatures, violent cell venting, smoke, and fire. Good information regarding this phenomenon can be found here: What Causes Thermal Runaway? | UL Research Institutes.
PF&R responded to a similar incident last month and 4 months ago with scooter batteries going into thermal runaway and causing smoke and water damage to buildings and in each of these situations, the scooters were being stored in a common egress route that in effect blocked the exit of the building with smoke and fire forcing residents evacuating to find a secondary exit during a time of heightened chaos of the incident with fire alarms sounding and fire sprinklers activated. These incidents can be avoided by following the guidelines below.
Portland Fire & Rescue would like remind Portlanders that lithium-ion batteries store a large amount of energy and can pose a threat if not treated properly. These batteries are found in electric bikes and scooters, cars, laptops, tablets, phones, and common household devices. Like any product, a small number of these batteries can be defective and can overheat, catch fire, or explode. Lithium-ion battery fires have caused deaths, injuries, and serious fires nationwide. These fires burn hot and fast and can emit large amounts of toxic smoke.
- If using any devices powered by lithium-ion batteries:
- Be sure any equipment has the Underwriter Laboratories (UL) mark.
- Follow manufacturers’ instructions for charging and storage.
- Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed, or on a couch.
- Keep batteries/devices stored at room temperature. Do not place in direct sunlight.
- Store batteries away from anything flammable.
- Do not charge or store battery operated devices or scooters in stairways/stairwells, in exit pathways, or in front of exit doors. We recommend actively charging this equipment only while you are home.
- If a battery overheats or you notice an odor, change in shape/color, cracks, leaking, or odd noises coming from a device, discontinue use immediately. If safe to do so, move the device away from anything that can catch fire and call 911.
- Inspect all lithium-ion battery-powered equipment and chargers for frayed or cracked cords and replace if necessary.
For safe battery disposal/recycling information, please see this link from the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability: www.portland.gov/bps/garbage-recycling/battery-recycling
Source: Portland Fire & Rescue