Baton Rouge, LA (8/28/2023) – The State Fire Marshal (SFM) reported hearing from some fire departments that they’re experiencing similar house fire calls this week that appear to be related to charging batteries overheating due to the extreme temperatures. These are rechargeable batteries for lawn equipment, powered vehicles and/or toys, etc.
Recent outside temperatures exceeding 100 degrees coupled with the average battery charging heating temperature of 30-40 degrees make this an overheating and fire hazard especially in a garage or shed.
Here are some tips to avoid this hazard in your home:
•Once a battery is fully charged, remove it from the charger.
•While in storage or charging, temperatures should not exceed 100-140 degrees, so consider charging in an open-air space.
•Only use charging devices that came packaged with the equipment or object or that are compatible per the item’s manufacturer recommendations.
•Keep a fire extinguisher near the charging station in the event of signs of overheating, including smoke, sparks, or flames.
