HFD: Lithium batteries, like those in electric cars and cell phones, blamed in dozens of Oahu fires - Hawaii News Now

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - More than a 3rd of Oahu’s accidental fires betwixt 2020 and 2022 progressive lithium ion batteries, the Honolulu Fire Department said Wednesday.

Of the 167 accidental fires connected Oahu during that period, the HFD said 58 progressive these types of batteries.

However, nary of these fires progressive fatalities, occurrence officials said.

“Luckily, determination person lone been insignificant injuries due to the fact that of lithium ion batteries,” said HFD occurrence researcher Kamehalani Ortiz.

“And we privation to support it astatine zero.”

Lithium ion batteries are utilized for a big of physics products specified arsenic compartment phones, laptop computers, cordless drills, electrical scooters, and adjacent electrical cars.

The batteries are mostly harmless but erstwhile misused, damaged oregon stored incorrectly, they tin spark a blaze.

“If they go damaged, overcharged oregon overheated, past chemic reactions tin hap wrong the cells resulting successful a aforesaid heating authorities known arsenic thermal tally away,” said HFD Battalion Chief Blake Takahashi.

These fires origin millions of dollars successful damages. But during a quality league Wednesday, HFD officials outlined immoderate of the preventative measures consumers tin take.

“If you’re going to complaint a compartment phone, delight don’t complaint it connected the furniture oregon adjacent immoderate combustibles,” said HFD Capt. Ricardo Yost.

“When purchasing devices, marque definite that it has an underwriters’ laboratory people which shows that the merchandise has been safely tested.”

Added HFD Capt. Jonathan Darr: “For ample items similar powerfulness tools ... I complaint them connected my my lanai extracurricular but not successful the nonstop sunligh.”

“I bash it erstwhile I’m home. I don’t permission things charging overnight.”

Fire officials added that aged and damaged batteries should not beryllium thrown distant successful the garbage.

Instead, scope retired to the metropolis Department of Environmental Service’s Recycling Branch astatine 808-768-3201.

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