Tri-State fire stations collecting lithium-ion batteries to prevent ‘catastrophic’ fires
CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Local fire departments are joining together to help prevent lithium-ion battery fires this holiday season.
The batteries are notorious for igniting e-bikes, e-scooters, and trash cans if not discarded properly, so firefighters are collecting them for you. You will now have even more places to safely recycle lithium-ion batteries. Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub started the recycling program in 2023 because lithium-ions aren’t like your typical battery.
Colerain Fire Department Captain Shawn Stacy, said :
They also heat up so much quicker than what we’re used to if we’re talking about a AA or a nine-volt.
“The lithium-ion batteries hold that charge, and when they do explode, or they do become so hot that they just continue to build that up, and then that’s what causes the structure fire,”
Stacy has seen something so small cause so much damage. He said batteries that were charging for a remote-controlled car started a fire that burned a woman’s house down.
Stacy said,
The homeowner tried to extinguish the fire on their own. [They] couldn’t get it out because it was such a massive fire, and it goes so fast with these batteries that it’s hard to extinguish that type of a fire,
Stacy said to keep an eye out for bulges or bubbling because it could be a sign the lithium-ion is damaged. If it’s not holding a charge or overheats while charging, those could be signs it’s old and needs to be replaced. Firefighter Joshua Mounce said that they’ll immediately put it in an extinguishing agent.
Ludlow Fire Department firefighter Joshua Mounce, said :
What that CellBlock does is, if that battery heats up, that CellBlock heats up with it and actually melts around the battery and prevents the battery from either discharging, catching fire, or all the above. It basically works like a charm,
Mounce also recommended charging lithium-ion batteries outside or at least away from other objects. He added that manufacturers have better safeguards against fires, but the battery acid can still cause third-degree burns.
Mounce said,
You could literally just drop it on accident, and just that’s all the more damage it needs, like cell phones,
“It has a lot of potential energy, and when they fail, they fail catastrophically and cause serious harm.”
here are 10 fire stations across Greater Cincinnati to recycle lithium-ion batteries.
Ohio Fire Stations:
- Cincinnati Fire Department Hyde Park Station #46, 2731 Erie Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45208
- Cincinnati Fire Department Lunken Station #18, 478 Wilmer Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45226
- Colerain Township Fire Department Station #25, 3251 Springdale Road, Cincinnati, OH 45251
- Green Township Fire Department Station #53, 6303 Harrison Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45247
- Indian Hill Station #64 6475 Drake Road, Indian Hill, OH 45243
- Madeira Station #65 7205 Miami Avenue, Madeira, OH 45243
- St. Bernard Fire Department Station #91, 4200 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45217
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Tri-State fire stations collecting lithium-ion batteries to prevent ‘catastrophic’ fires, source
