“Damaged batteries should stay dead” – Calgary Fire Department launches awareness campaign about lithium-ion battery safety

The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) is raising awareness about the serious dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries and is launching a new campaign to ensure Calgarians know how to use them safely. Using a creative “zombie” theme, the campaign advises Calgarians that “Damaged batteries should stay dead.” Damaged or modified lithium-ion batteries pose significant risks, and efforts to “bring them back to life” are highly unsafe.

The popularity of lithium-ion batteries is soaring, with these power sources now found in countless devices both inside and outside the home, including in scooters, e-bikes, phones, laptops and power tools. Unfortunately, with this rise in use comes an increase in fire risk. Lithium-ion battery fires are becoming more common in Calgary and all homes with these batteries are at risk.

“All lithium-ion batteries, and in particular, uncertified ones, have the potential to overheat, catch fire and cause explosions, with little to no warning,” cautions Fire Chief Steve Dongworth. “These fires can quickly reach temperatures over 500 degrees Celsius, producing toxic gases and dangerous smoke, which often can’t be put out with water. We want to encourage Calgarians to charge these batteries safely and only use certified, lab tested products.”

Tips for staying safe with lithium-ion batteries

The CFD advises Calgarians to take the following steps to reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires:

1. Only use certified lithium-ion batteries, chargers and cords that have been tested by national testing laboratories. Look for the ULC or CSA label on products.
2. Don’t use batteries that are hot, look swollen, are punctured or leaking, or are emitting gases that look like white or grey smoke.
3. Don’t leave batteries charging overnight or in places that block exits, such as doorways and hallways. In the event of a fire, your escape route will be blocked.
4. Avoid using your batteries in extreme hot and cold temperatures. Ideally, batteries should be kept between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius. Keep batteries away from heat sources or flammable materials, which could increase the likelihood of fires.

If you see smoke or a lithium-ion battery fire, leave the area immediately and phone 911 rather than attempting to put out the fire yourself. Lithium-ion battery fires give off toxic gases and burn extremely fast and hot, making them difficult to put out. These batteries can create a large fire very quickly so you may have less than a minute to get out safely!

Handle damaged lithium-ion batteries carefully

Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the garbage and do not store discarded batteries in piles.

All batteries, including lithium-ion batteries, need to be separated and taken to a recycling retailer for safe handling. If they end up in any of The City of Calgary bins, the batteries can get crushed by equipment leading to fires at the recycling facility, composting facility or landfill sites.

Calgarians can bring their batteries to one of The City of Calgary’s Eco Centres, free of charge, or visit Recycleyourbatteries.ca for more recycling locations.

This lithium-ion battery safety campaign includes YouTube videos, banner ads, advertisements on CTrain platforms, social media ads and has been translated into the top five languages spoken in Calgary; Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Arabic, Punjabi and Spanish.

Remember, damaged batteries should stay dead.

Preventing a lithium-ion battery fire is as easy as treating damaged and uncertified batteries like the threat they are. Don’t let a “zombie” battery come back to life. Be sure to handle them safely, dispose of them properly and only use certified products— because no one wants a fire hazard lurking around like the undead.

For more information about lithium-ion battery safety, visit calgary.ca/chargesafe.

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