Overview

• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates about 5,000 lithium‑ion battery fires occur each year nationwide.
• Firefighters urge buyers to choose certified products and use only manufacturer‑approved chargers, avoid overnight or soft‑surface charging, and keep large devices like e‑bikes out of indoor charging areas.
• New advisories instruct people not to submerge hot or off‑gassing batteries, to place them outdoors on flat concrete, and to call a non‑emergency fire line for removal.
• Departments report these fires can reach nearly 5,000°F, can reignite after being extinguished, and often resist water‑only suppression.
• Recycling programs direct residents to drop off spent or damaged batteries at hazardous‑waste facilities or retailer take‑backs, with handlers taping terminals before transport.