Increase in structures fires

Been puzzling at best where have been a greater volume of structure fires in our news service area. Referred to that with BIL where he as We have neighbors active on Fire Departments.

He and one Captain out of his area spoke on this where Li batteries came up. Fire investigators have been attempting to document causes which led them to improperly stored Li batteries in conjunction with excessive consumables within the storage area.
Many of the recent fires were attributed to small heaters, bad wiring or potential spontaneous combustion of Piles of discards left unattended for long periods as rags with petroleum or other chemical deposits on them. Then deeper studies noted most of these fires also had Li batteries in proximity to highest heat loading and raised this concern.

Small Tool batteries, Yard Equipment batteries, what are considered Emergency Auto On lighting with built in Li rechargeable cells plugged into receptacles. Very few breakers were located as Tripped by Investigators where a Battery Fire event may not cause a circuit to actually overload until that fire is fully involved with departments cutting or requesting power cut off to structures on fire prior to heavier involvement which would trip those breakers.   State Fire Inspectors are edgy as to calling out the batteries as a source, however is coming to that determination.

My insurer agent is also monitoring these developments Closely.
He felt may come down to a required Fully Enclosed with latching doors Steel storage cabinet with a Heat Trip Device power strip or Internal Electrical Outlet to keep insurers appeased much as Flammables Lockers for fuels cans.

Same here Hubert, Any of them can Light Off but Li's are the real concern.  Just remember the New Cordless STIHL machines are ALL Li, I dare say not a Cordless tool out there is not Lithium Ion.

Was a STIHL add on here this morning, Push Mower, Yard work Hand Equipment as Weed whacker, Chainsaw, Hand Blower, not impressed with volumes presented for work times, then at end showed Battery Storage in a Fully Open Rack, Exposed Wall Mounted Li Charger, with at least four batteries besides the ones On the Equipment on a Garage Wall.   Will make a STUPENDOUS Fire.  All manner of New EV Riding Mower Fires with those exceptionally LARGE, Immediate and Severe, those alone take FOUR of these Batteries.

Edited by DMiller - 15 Mar 2024 at 10:20am

Local Bowling alley burned down last summer.  The cause I heard was the LI batteries for the lane conditioner machine exploded/caught fire. Then of course sitting right next to the machine were jugs of lane conditioning oil. The alley was closed on the day it happened so by the time it was visible outside there was no saving it. 

That is the problem JC, as with dropped in the landfill Li batteries even dead are a reactive metal. All has to happen is cover cartridge be damaged, break that seal and allow moisture to any value in.