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.
- 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.
- Make sure to keep your batteries separate from each other.
- Make sure you do not leave batteries hooked up to a charger overnight.
- 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.”
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