Last month, on one of Spokane's hottest days (105 to 109 F), my neighbor's attached garage erupted in heavy flames, destroying his 2024 truck, and two BMW motorcycles. The heat cooked off ammo, and a 20 lb LPG tank, scattering debris around the neighborhood.
They weren't home, but the FD arrived very rapidly with at least five trucks, and managed to stop its spread to the rest of the house, as well as save his hunting dog, which was trapped inside.
Everything inside the house was destroyed from the heavy smoke, and it will not be inhabitable until December when the contractors complete the interior renovation and rebuild the garage.
The cause? It's been determined that a 40V Ryobi weed whipper lithium ion battery sitting on its charger in the hot garage underwent a violent 'thermal runaway' event.
These sorts of incidents, which are increasing in number due the rapidly expanding use of lithium ion battery systems in a large variety of applications is not brand specific but rather due to the inherent hazards that exist with current Li-Ion technology when certain precautions are not taken (or manufacturing flaws that inevitably occur).
That's not to say lithium batteries shouldn't be used, but it does indicate that they are much more sensitive to HOW they are used than most of us may be aware.
The NFPA recommends that lithium ion batteries should be stored at normal room temperatures, never charged in temperatures below 32 F or above 105 F, and should not stay on a charger once it has been fully charged.
They weren't home, but the FD arrived very rapidly with at least five trucks, and managed to stop its spread to the rest of the house, as well as save his hunting dog, which was trapped inside.
Everything inside the house was destroyed from the heavy smoke, and it will not be inhabitable until December when the contractors complete the interior renovation and rebuild the garage.
The cause? It's been determined that a 40V Ryobi weed whipper lithium ion battery sitting on its charger in the hot garage underwent a violent 'thermal runaway' event.
These sorts of incidents, which are increasing in number due the rapidly expanding use of lithium ion battery systems in a large variety of applications is not brand specific but rather due to the inherent hazards that exist with current Li-Ion technology when certain precautions are not taken (or manufacturing flaws that inevitably occur).
That's not to say lithium batteries shouldn't be used, but it does indicate that they are much more sensitive to HOW they are used than most of us may be aware.
The NFPA recommends that lithium ion batteries should be stored at normal room temperatures, never charged in temperatures below 32 F or above 105 F, and should not stay on a charger once it has been fully charged.
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