Officials announce another Massachusetts fire due to a Lithium-ion battery

After an investigation, it has been determined that another fire in Massachusetts was caused by a battery.

The Brockton Fire Department announced Saturday that they have determined the cause of the fire at 10 Thomas Cir on Tuesday to be caused by a Lithium-Ion battery in a cell phone.

Lithium-ion battery fires have been on the rise as of late including one in July in North Andover after it was left in the sun all day and exploded.

“Overheating and overcharging lithium-ion batteries can lead to an explosion or fire that puts everyone in the home at risk,” said North Andover Fire Chief John Weir.

It’s important to use, charge, and store lithium-ion batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions, Chief Weir said. Always use the original charging equipment, disconnect devices when they’re fully charged, protect them from damage or abuse, and avoid leaving them in hot cars or direct sunlight. 

“It’s important to call the fire department in a case like this, even if the fire appears to be extinguished,” said Chief Weir. “Lithium-ion battery packs can spontaneously reignite hours after the initial fire. Please let us handle these items and remove them for safe disposal.” 

“The high energy density of lithium-ion batteries means they pack a lot of power into a small device,” said State Fire Marshal Jon Davine. “Overcharging, overheating, and physical damage can cause them to fail rapidly and violently, like this one did.” 

When choosing devices powered by lithium-ion batteries, fire officials and safety experts recommend selecting products that are listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory like UL or Intertek/ETL. Stop using the device right away if you observe swelling or punctures, hear hissing or popping sounds, or notice that it’s giving off unusual heat or odor.