CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Batteries catching fire, even exploding, have made a lot of headlines in the past year, and have officials warning about the dangers that many people may not know.
Matthews Fire Department Lt. Chris Mollema said to not be fooled by how small and harmless batteries look.
"Any kind of heat source can lead to a fire," he said. "Any kind of electrical energy, heat is produced. So therefore, any time there's a heat source, there's a possibility of a fire."
[NFPA: Lithium ion batteries hazard and use assessment]
There have been many recent cases where batteries led to fires -- which then led to recalls: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones, Hoverboards, even some baby monitors.
Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke performed some simple experiments to show just how easily batteries can cause fires when they come in contact with basic household items.
(Battery catches steel wool on fire)
(Battery catches gum wrapper on fire)
"My brother was watching TV and he decided to shave,” Carolyn Supansic told Channel 9. “He put the remote on the couch."
She said that a few minutes later, “The flames were going up. The sofa cushion was on fire and it was going up the wall, across the ceiling."
Apparently, the batteries in Supansic’s remote control started the fire and destroyed her house.
The National Fire Protection Association has been so concerned about lithium ion batteries in particular -- the kind found in laptops, power tools, cameras and cellphones -- that it recently released a report, telling businesses how to store them better.
[Lithium Ion Batteries Hazard and Use Assessment]
For those who use batteries in everyday life, here are some tips:
- Put batteries in their devices correctly. Stoogenke found this warning on one: Batteries may explode or leak if inserted improperly.
- Never reuse batteries. Don't take them from one remote to use in another.
- Don't use batteries with nicks in them, as they can leak.
- Don't mix old and new batteries in the same device. The stronger battery may work overtime to make up for the weaker one, and overheat.
- Don't mix brands. Duracell told Stoogenke that "can lead to battery leakage and device damage."
- One piece of advice specifically dealing with your TV remote control: Don't leave it on the sofa. It can get caught between the cushions and heat up.