Fire marshal cautions on holiday lithium battery hazards

With the holiday gift giving season in full swing, the state fire marshall is urging residents to use caution when choosing and using devices powered by lithium ion batteries. >> 22 News reporter Sarah Bianame joins us live in studio with just how many fires occur from these specific type of batteries. Nikasara, since the Department of Fire Services put out a new lithium ion battery tracking form, there have been over 200 fires across Massachusetts from items coming in packages like this. Here's a video of a consumer grade lithium ion battery failure. You can hear the sounds of alarms detecting the toxic and flammable gases with Christmas and Hanukkah presents coming in. State Fire Marshal John Devon says many gifts like ebikes, toys, and other electronics include lithium ion batteries. If you get these gifts, he's urging you to only charge the batteries on a hard, flat surface and only use the charger from the manufacturer until it's fully charged. Now, this is when you should dial 911 immediately. >> It feels really warm or the the electronic starts to swell or has an odor, you know, we want you to get that outside and and call 911 right away. >> If you're buying a present that uses a lithium ion battery, look for a certification mark from an independent testing lab. And when it's time to dispose a device or replace the battery, don't throw it in the trash or regular recycling bins. Bring them to a battery recycling location instead. Since 2023, the Department of Fire Services launched a data collection tool to track the extent of fires, explosions, and other lithium ion battery incidents. That new tool has identified about 90 fires so far this year. working for you. Sarah Bianame, 22 News.