SPOKANE, Wash. – A new campaign to teach Spokane residents about the fire danger of lithium-ion batteries rolled out this week.
According to the Spokane Fire Department, lithium-ion technology is a part of daily life, making it even more important to know how dispose of batteries properly.
“In Spokane County, we have seen an increase in fires caused by improperly disposed lithium-ion in solid waste disposal in collection trucks, at transfer stations, and at the Waste to Energy Facility,” Spokane County Regional Solid Waste Manager Deb Geiger said.
A lithium-ion battery on a bike sparked a fire in a Coeur d’Alene Police Department warehouse in June that Spokane Fire Marshal Lance Dahl hopes that the new Battery Smart campaign highlights the importance of fire danger to property and people.
“Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries are very difficult to extinguish and pose significant additional risk to firefighters,” Dahl said.
Additional information on safe battery handling from the Spokane Fire Department can be found below.
· Only purchase and use devices, batteries, and charging equipment listed by a nationally recognized testing lab and labeled accordingly.
· Use charging equipment that is only compatible with your device. To be safe, use only the charging equipment supplied with your device.
· Do not keep charging the device or battery after fully charging.
· Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling, or change in color.
· Only have device repairs performed by a qualified professional.
· Remove batteries from devices and toys before disposing safely.
· Lithium-ion batteries must be disposed of safely at household hazardous waste collection areas at the Waste to Energy Facility and Solid Waste Transfer Stations.
· Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash or recycling. Search for drop-off locations for lithium-ion batteries on the Spokane River Forum’s online waste directory.
