The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) has released horrifying footage of an electric motorcycle’s lithium-ion battery being charged at a home in Halifax.
The incident, which took place at a house in Illingworth on February 24, shows a man coming down the stairs at around 1 a.m. when he heard a popping sound.
According to WYFRS, the noise is due to battery failure due to thermal runaway—excessive heat during charging.
The video, released with the approval of the homeowner, aims to educate the public about the dangers of charging lithium-ion batteries indoors.
John Cavalier, a watch manager who works with the Fire Investigation Unit, said: “While fires involving lithium batteries are common, there is video showing that the fire is developing with less force. From the video you can see that this fire is absolutely terrible. “None of us want this to happen in our homes.”
He added: “Because lithium batteries are found in a number of items, we are regularly involved in fires associated with them. They can be found in cars, bikes, scooters, laptops, phones, and e-cigarettes, among many other items.
“Any other type of fire that we encounter usually develops slowly and people can quickly evacuate. However, the battery fire was so ferocious and spread so quickly that he did not have much time to escape.
Five people were taken to the hospital with smoke poisoning, one received burns to his mouth and trachea. None of the injuries were life-threatening.
The home’s kitchen was hit hard by the heat and smoke, which also affected the rest of the home as people fled the fire with their doors open.
WM Cavalier added: “To ensure the safety of your family, do not leave lithium batteries charging unattended, do not leave them at exits or in hallways, and unplug the charger when the battery is fully charged.
”I would like to thank the homeowners who allowed us to use this video – it clearly demonstrates the dangers associated with lithium batteries and helps save lives.”
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Post time: Mar-10-2023
