2025 Fire Prevention Week encourages lithium-ion battery safety

This year's Fire Prevention Week is encouraging people to "Charge into Fire Safety" and learn more about being safe while using lithium-ion batteries. Fire Prevention Week is a national awareness campaign that runs until Saturday. Lithium-ion batteries are found in electronics, small appliances, power tools, portable devices, e-bikes, toys and vapes. Brunswick Hills Fire Chief Anthony Strazzo said lithium-ion battery fires are becoming more common, which is why it is this year's theme. "A rechargeable battery has chemicals inside of it, and the battery ages and recharges several hundred times over the course of its life." he said. "It can become damaged either by dropping it, bending it or overheating it. Then, at that point, the battery may catch fire, start to smoke and become a danger." Devices should be tested and listed by a qualified testing laboratory, Strazzo said. Devices should also be charged safely by following the manufacturer's directions and not charging a device under a pillow or on a bed or couch. "Once they're fully charged, unplug them," he said. "Make sure the plugs you're using are the appropriate ones for that product and not swapping a charger from a different type of device." Lithium-ion batteries should also be disposed of properly, Strazzo said. Several Medina County fire stations, including Brunswick Hills, are accepting lithium-ion batteries to be recycled in partnership with the Medina County Solid Waste District. If a lithium-ion battery starts smoking, call 911. He said the best fire safety tip is to ensure smoke detectors are working. "If you can, try to remove the battery from your house or office or wherever you're at," Strazzo said. "One key that we tell everybody is that the smoke that's generated from a lithium-ion battery, either just smoking or on fire, is very, very toxic. You want to make sure that you don't inhale any of that smoke." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.