When a Simple Charge Becomes a Blaze: Why Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Demands Our Attention

Fire Safety

Oct 21

A seemingly ordinary device. A routine charge. A sudden fire.

Recently, a home in North Carolina was nearly destroyed when a dog chewed through a lithium-ion battery and sparked a fire—an incident captured on camera and shared by the Chapel Hill Fire Department. While no one was harmed, the event underscores a growing and very real hazard: lithium-ion battery fires.

As the NFPA reminds us during Fire Prevention Week, and as our own coverage of “Safe Charging for Electronic Devices in Schools, Hospitals and Businesses” emphasised, batteries aren’t just portable power—they’re potential fire threats when mishandled.

In this article we’ll cover:

What makes lithium-ion batteries uniquely dangerous
How the charging habits of users in schools, businesses and homes factor in
Key take-aways from Fire Prevention Week 2025 and how organizations can act now

What’s so dangerous about lithium-ion batteries?

Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere: phones, tablets, laptops, e-bikes, power tools. Their convenience is unquestionable—but their risks are increasingly evident. As one report noted, between 2017 and 2022, the United States reported more than 25,000 fire or overheating incidents involving lithium-ion batteries.

What drives the hazard?

Thermal runaway. Once a cell goes into failure (due to damage, overcharge, heat, or internal defect) it can self-heat and trigger neighboring cells, creating a chain-reaction fire.
High heat and toxicity. These fires burn hotter than standard fires, emit unique toxic gases, and are difficult to extinguish.
Re-ignition risk. Unlike many fires that burn out quickly, damaged lithium-ion batteries may smolder and reignite hours or days later.

Thus, when we hear about a fire in a storage facility, a school hallway, or a home office—linked to a lithium-ion battery—it’s not just an odd anomaly. It’s a part of an emerging trend that demands attention.

Charging habits + institutional environments = elevated risk

In our coverage of Fire Prevention Week 2025, we highlighted how schools, hospitals, and businesses are engaging in what we called “safe charging” strategies: where devices with lithium-ion batteries are charged on non-combustible surfaces, only with manufacturer-approved chargers, and never left unattended or overnight.

In institutional settings, the risk is particularly nuanced:

Devices may be charging in common areas, staff rooms, or large classrooms—often out of sight.
Mobility devices (e-scooters, e-bikes) used by students or staff introduce another layer of elevated risk.
Disposal, storage and bulk charging practices may not always align with best practices, increasing vulnerability.

For example, one school reported a student’s dropped phone triggered smoke and burning—the lithium-ion battery had begun to swell and ignite.

These incidents aren’t hypothetical. They affect real lives, real facilities and real operations. Organizations must recognise that the convenience of lithium-ion power comes with responsibility.

Fire Prevention Week 2025: Key themes & what they mean for you

This year’s Fire Prevention Week put lithium-ion battery safety front and centre, with fire chiefs across the US emphazising the surge in battery-related incidents and urging actionable prevention steps.

Key takeaways include:

Use only certified batteries and charging equipment (look for UL, ETL listings).
Charge devices on hard, non-combustible surfaces, not soft materials like couches or beds.
Unplug once fully charged. Do not leave devices charging unattended or overnight.
Store batteries and devices where physical damage is less likely—avoid high-traffic zones where drops, impacts or pets may intervene (as the North Carolina case shows).
Dispose of or recycle batteries properly. Do not throw them in trash where they might be punctured or crushed.

For schools and businesses, aligning hardware, charging stations, training and policy is critical. As our earlier article noted, embedding safe charging practices across devices and departments is foundational to modern life-safety planning.

Actionable steps for your facility today

Here are practical measures facilities managers, IT teams and safety officers can implement immediately:

Inventory & map devices

Identify all lithium-ion battery-powered devices in your facility (phones, tablets, e-bikes, tools).
Locate their charging stations and check if they meet safe surface + supervision criteria.

Review charging policy

Establish approved chargers only. Prohibit third-party cable/charger swaps unless certified.
Reinforce “no devices charging overnight or in unsupervised areas” rule.
Ensure devices are charged on hard surfaces and away from flammable materials.

Training & awareness

Dedicate time in staff/teacher orientations on battery fire risks, what swelling or overheating looks like.
Run awareness campaigns during Fire Prevention Week, echoing the NFPA and local fire-department messaging.

Storage & disposal protocols

Set safe rooms or cabinets for bulk charging of mobility devices or large batteries.
Provide designated recycling locations for old batteries; enforce that these batteries are not crushed, thrown in trash or stored near ignition sources.

Emergency planning

Include lithium-ion battery incidents in your fire-safety audit and risk-assessment frameworks.
Ensure your firefighter/responder partners are aware of battery-specific hazards (toxicity, re-ignition, heat persistence).
Confirm that your suppression systems or layout consider the unique nature of these fires.

Final thought

The reality is this: lithium-ion batteries are integral to how we work, teach, move and live. They offer convenience—but also carry risk. A single damaged battery, improper charger or absent supervision can trigger a high-intensity fire scenario.

As we observed during the Fire Prevention Week campaign, and as confirmed in real-world incidents, the good news is that many of these fires are preventable through awareness, policy, hardware alignment and safe habits.

At Communication Company, we are committed to helping organizations across K-12, healthcare and enterprise environments evaluate their device-charging ecosystems, implement safe practices, and align systems with risk-aware standards. If you’d like help auditing your battery-powered device infrastructure or building a safety plan aligned with the latest guidance, we’re here to assist.

Stay charged—but stay safe.