The Key West Fire Department wants to remind the owners of electric-powered vehicles that, without using the right safety precautions, lithium-ion batteries can be a fire hazard.
Fire Marshal Division Chief Jason Barroso has compiled a safety tip sheet to help ensure the community's safety and avoid e-vehicle battery fires. Owners must always follow the manufacturer's safety instructions for charging and storing them. These batteries can overheat, catch fire or even explode, causing the possibility of injuries, fires, and deaths.
Over the past years, the Department has seen an uptick in fires caused by the unsafe charging of these batteries.
“We want to be sure our community is safe," said Barroso. "That's why we've created a fact sheet for the users to ensure they don't have a fire."
Some of the pointers are:
• Store batteries in open spaces
• Recharge by plugging them directly into a wall outlet, not a power strip
• Do not leave them to charge overnight
• Keep batteries away from heat and direct sunlight
• Be sure you have smoke alarms in every room of the house
The Fire Department receives annual donations of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Any Key West resident who needs help with this can contact the Fire Department at 305-809-3933 or email the Fire Marshal's office.
For more vital safety tips, click here.
Click here for the Fire Marshal's document on E-vehicles.