WOODBURY, Minn. – At least five homes in Woodbury caught fire because of a now-common item. According to investigators, these fires were all started by lithium-ion batteries.
Some of the fires resulted in widespread damage, including a total loss of a home.
Lithium-ion batteries are found in your laptop, headphones, and most devices that need charging. They have special cables for the wall and your device. Using the wrong ones is a problem that can have devastating consequences.
During one of the fires, investigators said a lawnmower battery in the garage overheated and melted. Some nearby rags and paper towels then caught fire. In another case, it was a drill that started the fire. A third incident began with an airsoft gun exploding, setting a teenager's bedroom and then the entire house on fire. Fortunatly nobody was hurt.
The Woodbury Fire Department says the five fires it investigated all occurred within the last four months.
“If you look at it, it ranges from small laptops and cell phones to our lawn and maintenance tools to electric vehicles, e-bikes and scooters that are coming out now,” said Firefighter Kevin Lynch. “(The signs) ranged from a smell in the house to smoke and flames that people saw.”
RELATED: Lithium-ion battery fires caused by electric cars, bikes and scooters are on the rise. Are the firefighters ready?
The risk lies not only in what is calculated, but also in where.
“We've had units where people would leave them on the floor or carpet instead of on a granite countertop or a wooden table,” Lynch said. “It causes the product to overheat, and then the carpet is more flammable, so the heat can catch fire and spread to other flammable things.”
Firefighters give several important tips:
- Read the label and know the voltage and power rating.
- Stop charging the batteries once they are full.
- Charge devices on hard surfaces such as desks, tables, or counters.
- Only use the batteries intended for your device and the charger provided.
The danger of batteries catching fire extends beyond the home. If you're traveling, check with your airline and the TSA for rules about where and how to pack devices with lithium-ion batteries, including backup cell phone chargers.
More from CBS News
Jonah Kaplan
Read more