St. Cloud Fire Marshal Shares Battery Safety Tips for Fire Prevention Week

(KNSI) – The St. Cloud Fire Department is using Fire Prevention Week to warn about a fire risk sitting in almost every home, the lithium-ion batteries.

The power source runs everyday items such as phones, laptops, e-bikes, scooters and even some yard equipment.

Fire Prevention Week runs Sunday, October 4th through Saturday, October 10th. The National Fire Protection Association’s theme this year is “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower.”

St. Cloud Fire Marshal Brian Kiffmeyer says those batteries can fail, and when they do, it can be disastrous. “It’s a growing cause of fire throughout the entire United States, and we’ve seen that here in St. Cloud. We’ve had a few fires that have damaged people’s homes.”

Kiffmeyer recommends using the charger made for the device, since cheap replacements can overcharge or undercharge a battery. He also says to charge devices on a hard, flat surface instead of a bed or couch, where heat gets trapped, and to unplug them once they’re fully charged. Most battery failures happen during charging.

Warning signs include a strange smell, a battery that gets very hot, hissing or popping sounds, or smoke. If that happens, Kiffmeyer says to unplug the device if you can, get away from it and call 911.

Beyond batteries, Kiffmeyer has a simple ask for residents this week. “The biggest thing for Fire Prevention Week is it’s a good reminder just to take five minutes, walk around your house, check your smoke alarms, check your CO alarm.”

The fire department recommends a smoke alarm in every bedroom and on every floor, and replacing alarms every 10 years, including hardwired and sealed long-life models. A working carbon monoxide detector is the only way to know if the colorless, odorless gas is building up from a furnace or a running vehicle.

St. Cloud residents who need help installing smoke alarms or changing batteries can call Fire Station 1 to set up a free visit. The department also has donated carbon monoxide alarms available. The American Red Cross offers free smoke alarm installation anywhere in central Minnesota.

Kiffmeyer says cooking remains by far the leading cause of fires in St. Cloud, so every home should have a working fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen. Lithium-ion batteries now rank among the city’s top five causes.

Firefighters are visiting area schools and daycares this week to share the same safety messages with kids.

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