Many of our household appliances run on rechargeable batteries. But with their high performance, the risk of fire increases significantly. Improper loading, storage or disposal increasingly leads to explosive situations.
From electric toothbrushes to mobile phones, e-bikes or scooters to electric cars, many of our daily and household appliances and our electromobility are now powered by lithium batteries. Without this storable energy, many things would grind to a halt. According to the Austrian Road Safety Council (KFV), there are 15 rechargeable batteries in the average Austrian household. In fact, experts expect these “lithium power packs” in circulation to triple by 2025.
However, the high performance of these energy wonders harbors a source of danger: if batteries are exposed to excessive stress, there is a risk of fire. With smartphones, a “feel good climate” must be taken into account. Extreme temperatures – this applies to both heat (plus 40 degrees) and cold (minus ten degrees) – affect the chemical processes in the devices. And: Already every sixth fire in the country is caused by a faulty charger or a faulty battery.
Caused an inferno in the house due to incorrect storage
Like three years ago, when the improper storage of old, faulty batteries in a bag led to an inferno in a residential building in Vienna-Simmering, leaving 370 tenants homeless.
Explosions caused by faulty or improperly stored chargers and batteries affect virtually all areas of life today: burning cell phones, e-scooters or e-bikes catching fire, exploding electric cars or boats, and even blown soft guns are among the increasingly common more common “battery fires”. -Headlines”.
“We often have incidents where fires were caused by faulty batteries,” said fire chief Christian Feiler of the Vienna Professional Fire Service. The engineer confirms the trend, but warns against exaggerated fears: “Given the millions of battery-powered devices, the threat is still limited. In Advent and around Christmas, forgotten candles and burning Christmas trees are still the greatest fire hazard.”
Proper storage is of the utmost importance
Despite this, firefighting professional Feiler does not play down the “E-danger” in any way. He advises to park e-bikes, e-scooters, etc. correctly. “That means: there should be no flammable material within reach and the batteries should be stored on iron plates or tiles.”
If a faulty battery has caused a fire, one thing applies: never try to extinguish the flames yourself! Powerful explosions can occur. And the fumes are extremely harmful to health. “Set the alarm immediately, close the door to the seat of the fire and start a controlled flight,” advises the expert.
Explosions and toxic gases are life-threatening
Only firefighters in safe special suits are allowed to extinguish battery fires. Because the subsequent chemical reactions can even be life-threatening.
In short: correct risk awareness is important. Most people are aware of open flames and the associated dangers. But few are aware of this new threat of exploding batteries.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
