RI State Fire Marshal issues warnings and advice on lithium batteries in the home

An e-bike lithium battery is being blamed for starting a fire inside an apartment on Tiogue Avenue in Coventry on Monday night.

Through their investigation, the Office of the State Fire Marshal determined the lithium battery was plugged-in with a charger that was not compatible. As a result, three people were transported to Rhode Island Hospital for smoke inhalation.

“I can’t emphasize enough the critical importance of using compatible chargers and equipment for safe operation of e-bikes and electric vehicles,” said Rhode Island State Fire Marshal Timothy McLaughlin. “If not used correctly or damaged, lithium batteries are known to catch fire or explode and can give off toxic gases and burn extremely hot.”

Anyone who notices a problem with a lithium battery such as an odor, smoke, change in color, overheating, or unable to maintain a charge, should stop using it immediately.

Other safety tips include:

• Only using devices, batteries, and charging equipment that are listed by a nationally recognized testing lab and labeled as such
• Follow the instructions from the manufacturer
• Use only the battery and charger that were designed for the device
• Do not continue charging the battery or device after it is fully charged
• Charge one device at a time to prevent overloading the circuit
• Maintain lithium batteries at room temperature
• Store e-bikes and their batteries away from anything that can get hot or catch fire
• Repairs should only be made by a licensed professional