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More to Every Story | Lithium-Ion Battery Safety

An e-bike battery sparked a fire that caused millions of dollars in damages at a Coeur d'Alene police building last week.

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — A fire destroyed the Coeur d'Alene police department's supplementary building, which is home to code enforcement, animal control and the police department’s IT division.

An investigation revealed an e-bike battery failure caused the fire. 

Here are some tips to help prevent lithium-ion battery fires as they become more common.

  1.  According to the International Association of Firefighters. When you buy a lithium-ion battery device make sure it's certified. Non-certified devices may not have gone through quality checks.
  2. Make sure to keep your batteries separate from each other. 
  3. Make sure you do not leave batteries hooked up to a charger overnight.
  4. When you're storing your devices, choose a safe location. It's recommended to place them in an open area where the temperature is comfortable and avoid exposing them to direct sunlight.

According to officials, “If a battery begins to swell, smoke, or spark, citizens should call 911 and remove themselves from the location of the battery or product.”

RELATED: Coeur d'Alene City Council approves declaration of emergency requested by police department after last week's fire

RELATED: Over 1.2 million rechargeable lights are under recall for fire hazards, following one reported death

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