News Summary
With the holiday season approaching, fire crews in St. Petersburg, Florida are seeing a significant rise in fires linked to lithium-ion batteries. This alarming trend reflects a nationwide increase, prompting firefighters to educate the public on safety measures. Residents are urged to recycle dead batteries and adopt safe charging practices to prevent dangerous incidents as gifts containing these batteries become more common.
St. Petersburg, Florida – Fire crews in St. Petersburg are increasingly responding to calls related to lithium-ion battery fires as the holiday season approaches. This year, 28% of the fires investigated by St. Pete Fire Rescue have been linked to battery incidents, a trend mirrored nationwide where over 2,500 battery incidents were reported in 2024.
The rising number of battery-related incidents has prompted firefighters across the country to actively educate the public on fire prevention measures this week. As holidays bring an uptick in gifts and gadgets embedded with these batteries, the risk of fires and explosions also escalates.
According to St. Pete Fire Rescue Division Chief Ian Womack, lithium-ion batteries power a wide array of everyday devices, including phones, tablets, AirTags, e-bikes, scooters, and golf carts. Chief Womack has stressed the importance of using the correct charger for these devices to prevent overcharging and potential hazards.
Additionally, incidents have highlighted the dangers of improper charging. One example includes an occurrence where a local city councilman improperly charged an AirTag with a watch charger, resulting in an explosion. This underscores the need for heightened awareness regarding battery safety, especially when charging devices.
Fire Safety Practices
Firefighters in St. Petersburg urge residents not to throw away dead batteries, as improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries can ignite fires in trash trucks and landfills. Instead, residents are encouraged to visit Call2Recycle.org for information on safe recycling locations.
With the holiday season looming, firefighters are particularly worried about gifts containing lithium-ion batteries. Fire Captain Garth Swingle noted the significant risk presented by these batteries, particularly when improper charging practices are involved. Statistics indicate that there have been 646 reported deaths since 1995 due to fires, explosions, or malfunctions linked to lithium-ion devices.
Increasing Incidents
The Fire Safety Research Institute has documented a troubling increase in lithium-ion battery incidents over the past 15 years, especially from 2021 onwards. Experts warn that the escape time from lithium-ion battery fires can be alarmingly short, dropping to just one minute, compared to an average of three minutes for traditional fires.
Identifying Faulty Batteries
Residents are advised to familiarize themselves with the signs of faulty batteries, which may include expansion, unusual smells, or popping noises. Proper charging practices are critical; users should only utilize chargers approved by the manufacturers of their devices.
While smaller devices like toothbrushes and earbuds that utilize a single battery cell may present lower risks, larger items such as e-bikes and golf carts are significantly more perilous. A recent incident featured a golf cart catching fire while it was charging, almost spreading to a nearby home. Thankfully, alert neighbors notified the homeowners, enabling firefighters to extinguish the flames in time.
The combination of the holiday season and the prevalence of lithium-ion batteries necessitates increased caution and awareness among residents of St. Petersburg. As the number of incidents rises, so too does the responsibility of users to employ safe practices when handling and charging their devices.
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Additional Resources
- Fox13 News: St. Pete Firefighters Warn of Lithium-Ion Battery Fires Rise
- Wikipedia: Lithium-ion Battery
- ScienceDirect: Lithium-Ion Battery Safety
- Google Search: Lithium-ion Battery Fire Prevention
- Patch: Electric Golf Cart Catches Fire While Charging
- Google Scholar: Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Statistics
- Duke Energy: New Lithium-ion Battery Sites in Florida
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Lithium-Ion Battery
Author: STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER
ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER The ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREStPetersburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in St Petersburg, Pinellas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Localtopia, and SHINE Mural Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Pete Downtown Partnership, plus leading businesses in finance, manufacturing, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Raymond James Financial, Jabil, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
