Fire Prevention Week Emphasizes Lithium‑Ion Battery Safety

Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 5–11, 2025) centers on the NFPA campaign “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium‑Ion Batteries in Your Home.” Fire departments and safety agencies across the U.S. and Canada — including Maryland, Iowa, Roswell, West Virginia, Lowndes County (GA), Truckee Meadows, Detroit and Montreal — are holding school visits, community events, parades and media briefings to raise awareness. Officials warn lithium‑ion batteries that power phones, laptops, e‑bikes and toys can overheat, ignite or even explode if damaged, overcharged or improperly disposed; Maryland investigators say they have linked 102 fires to such batteries since early 2023. Authorities are promoting a “Buy, Charge and Recycle Safely” approach: buy products with recognized safety listings (UL/ETL/CSA), avoid uncertified items, and use manufacturer‑approved chargers; charge devices on hard surfaces and avoid charging on beds or couches. Residents are urged to prevent overcharging, know which items contain lithium‑ion cells, never dispose of batteries in household trash or regular recycling and instead take them to designated drop‑off sites (for example, call2recycle.org), with NFPA and UL resources available for guidance.