- Skippers should ask their passengers about any lithium- ion powered devices they may be bringing onboard. Can they assure you there’s been no home modifications made to the batteries and that the products were purchased from a reputable retailer?
- The nature of lithium-ion technology and chemistry means fires can escalate very rapidly. What might appear in the first instance to be overheating, a crackling noise, usual odour or changes to the shape of the battery, could quickly escalate into a serious fire or in extreme circumstances even an explosion.
- Always maintain oversight while charging lithium-ion batteries so you can spot any of these warning signs within the early stages. If you do see any of these warning signs immediately disconnect the charger from the power if it is safe to do so. If there’s any sign of smoke, evacuate and call the emergency services.
- Personal safety is absolutely paramount with any type of fire. It is strongly recommended that people don’t attempt to fight lithium-ion battery fires themselves.
- Put simply: the fire extinguishers onboard the boat or within a home are typically not effective in fighting lithium-ion battery fires. In the future, extinguishers for lithium-ion battery fires may be developed, but current extinguishers are typically not effective.
- Within larger lithium-ion battery powered devices and tools, there are a large number of battery cells contained within the battery pack, which is also sealed. So, putting water or any other extinguishing medium on the outside of the battery pack itself is unlikely to be effective when the heat is being generated from within.
- It’s also important to be aware of the potential for re-ignition of lithium-ion battery fires. We’ve
seen cases where people thought they had effectively extinguished a small fire themselves but were unaware of the heat that remained within. All lithium-ion batteries can be prone to re-ignition minutes or hours later, or even the following day. Be aware that re-ignition is a real risk and always call your local fire service so they can take appropriate action.
- Toxic fumes also present a significant safety risk with lithium- ion battery fires, and these fumes are likely to be present even if there’s a minimal amount of smoke or no other smoke present. Toxic fumes are clearly highly dangerous to humans, especially anybody who is onboard in a confined area. So, we strongly recommend people evacuate themselves and anyone else in the vicinity immediately to fresh air and then call the emergency services.
- The number one takeaway tip is don’t attempt to extinguish lithium-ion battery fire yourself. If you see those warning signs in the early stages of the charging process, whether that is a sign of overheating, swelling or a cracking noise, disconnect the power if possible to do so safely, but still call the fire service because that’s what we are there for.
THE REPORT | MAR 2025 | ISSUE 111 | 73
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