The rise in the use of lithium-ion batteries in everyday items, many of which people keep at home, means that there has been an increase in fires involving this very specific battery type.

However, a fire started by a lithium-ion battery presents unique challenges and risks. That’s why, this month at Fire Safety Equipment, we’re talking about whether this type of fire can be safely put out and what the dangers are.

A quick note on your safety here: we want to stress that you should not fight a fire unless necessary and trained to do so, particularly with lithium-ion fires.

Why is a lithium-ion battery?

You’ve no doubt heard of lithium-ion batteries, and you probably have at least one in your home, but where exactly can they be found? Here are some items that use lithium-based batteries: 

• Laptops
• E-cigarettes
• Mobile phones
• Tablets
• Smartwatches
• Headphones
• Electric vehicles (EVs)
• & many more devices

This type of battery has become extremely popular due to its lightweight nature, rechargeability and high energy capacity. The lithium metal oxide element of the battery is what gives it such high potential.

But that potential also comes with hidden dangers, which we’ll cover next.

Why are lithium fires so dangerous?

Since they’re so common, it should be pointed out that lithium-ion batteries are, for the large part, quite safe. However, there have been many circumstances where, due to some of the following, they’ve caught fire:

• Overcharging
• Overheating
• Damage to the battery
• Exposure to high temperatures

Any fire is dangerous, but there are several ways in which a lithium fire can pose even more risk to people and property. 

Thermal runaway is the most common issue with fires started by lithium-ion batteries. This is where the internal temperature of the battery quickly rises, generating more and more heat, which creates a self-sustaining cycle. 

It’s a rapid process and comes with such high temperatures that it can be difficult to tackle in the same way as a normal fire — water is especially dangerous to use for this fire type due to the creation of flammable hydrogen gas when it reacts with lithium.

Some lithium batteries can also release oxygen as they burn, adding more supply to the fire and intensifying the situation, even when there is little oxygen outside of the battery itself. This makes it hard to starve the fire of oxygen, a common tactic for other fire types.

The speed at which a lithium battery can overheat also risks explosions, something seen in waste management facilities when people have improperly disposed of their devices in regular waste collections. 

Volatile and unpredictable, it’s easy to see why lithium-ion battery fires have earned a distinct reputation within the fire safety community.

Can a lithium fire be put out safely?

The answer here is yes, you can safely put out a lithium-ion battery fire, but only if you have the necessary equipment and expertise. This is usually down to the local fire brigade, as they’re the ones who will know the best approach to take when dealing with such volatile fires.

Your safety is always the very top priority, so it’s not recommended that you tackle a lithium fire by yourself unless absolutely necessary, such as when it may be blocking the only safe exit from a building.

There are specialist fire extinguishers available for this fire type, which you can find in our range of Lith-Ex extinguishers. However, it’s important to ensure that you do not put yourself or others at risk when there is a lithium fire — always put safety first and evacuate if you do not feel confident in putting out the fire as you could make matters worse.

Fire blankets for electric vehicles are also becoming more common in an attempt to address the risks that modern cars pose. Again, you should never approach an EV that is on fire, as the fire blanket is intended only to be used by trained staff. You can read more about this topic in our previous article here.

Shop online for lithium-ion battery extinguishers and fire blankets in our store, helping you to get all the fire safety equipment you need to meet the challenges of modern electronic devices. We provide fast, free delivery of your items in the UK and only supply quality equipment for our customers — it’s why we come so highly rated by customers.