How to stay safe in the home and outdoors
Essential tips for lithium-ion battery and general fire prevention
As we move towards summer, it’s essential for all Australians to be fire safety aware, as often rising temperatures mean increased risk. Whether it’s taking care when charging and storing products with lithium-ion batteries, preparing your home for bushfire season, or ensuring your camping trip is fire-safe, staying vigilant is vital.
Tips to stay fire prepared and safe this summer:
- Home Fire Safety: Ensure fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, and fire blankets are up to date and operational. Have an escape plan and ensure everyone is familiar with it.
- Summer Fire Safety: Check your home for fire hazards, such as dry leaves, debris, and flammable items stored too close to heat sources. Clear gutters and make sure your home’s fire alarms are working.
- Bushfire Survival Plan: Create and practice a bushfire survival plan with your family. Know your local fire danger ratings and have an evacuation plan in place.
- Caravan and Camping Fire Safety: Ensure your caravan or camping setup includes fire safety equipment, such as portable fire extinguishers. Be mindful of campfires, and always check local fire bans.
Another increased fire risk in warmer months is posed by hazards from everyday items powered by lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are found in everything from phones and laptops to e-bikes and electric vehicles, but they can also be dangerous if not handled properly.
Each year, lithium-ion batteries cause more than 1000 fires in Australia. These fires are hard to extinguish, sometimes burning for hours or days, close to people and property. This reinforces the need to handle, store, and dispose of these batteries safely, especially as fire risks increase during the hotter months.
Tips to prevent lithium-ion battery fires:
- Store batteries at the right temperature: Batteries perform best and are safest when stored between 5°C and 20°C. Hot temperatures increase the fire risk, while cool temperatures make devices less efficient and reduce battery life.
- Don’t overcharge your devices: Overcharging causes overheating and can lead to thermal runaway, a dangerous chain reaction inside the battery. Avoid charging devices overnight and try to keep battery levels between 50 per cent and 100 per cent.
- Handle with care: Damaged batteries can leak harmful chemicals and overheat, increasing the chance of fire. Be careful when handling and disposing of them to avoid accidents.
- Keep batteries clean: Dust and dirt can build up on batteries and cause them to overheat. Regularly clean vents and ports to reduce fire risks.
- Purchase from trusted sources: Avoid buying counterfeit batteries, which may not meet safety standards. Ensure your batteries comply with Australian regulations, such as the Electrical Equipment Safety Scheme (EESS).
For more information on fire safety and to view our checklists, visit Fire Safety Checklists – Wormald, or contact our team on 133 166.
