From Phones to Power Tools: Know the Risks of Lithium-Ion Batteries this Fire Prevention Week

By Alexandra Montoya, Staff Reporter news@themexianews.com

The theme for Fire Prevention Week™, October 5–11, 2025, is “Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium- Ion Batteries in Your Home.”

Fire departments across the country are teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week™ (FPW™) for more than 100 years — to promote this year’s campaign, “Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.” It highlights how important it is to buy, charge, and recycle lithium-ion batteries safely.

Most of the electronics we use in our homes every day — smartphones, tablets, power and lawn tools, laptops, e-cigarettes, headphones, and toys, to name just a few — are powered by lithium-ion batteries. In fact, most everything that’s rechargeable uses this type of battery.

If not used correctly or if damaged, lithium-ion batteries can overheat, start a fire, or even explode. To reduce these risks, look around your home — it’s important to know which devices are powered by them. This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign helps people understand the importance of using these batteries correctly to prevent fires in the home and to follow the Buy, Charge, and Recycle Safely approach.”

See PHONES page 2 Buy only listed products.

Charge devices safely.

Recycle batteries responsibly.

The Marlin Volunteer Fire Department is not hosting any events related to this year’s FPW campaign, but Marlin VFD Chief James Adams urges residents to take proactive action to be prepared for housefires.

“We have been lucky not to have any lithium-ion battery fires, but people need to be aware of the risks,” Adams said. “Scooters and things like this, try not to charge them in the house because fires caused by lithium- ion batteries are hard to put out. We stress smoke detectors; everybody has kind of gone by the wayside with smoke detectors, but it is important to check (and change) the batteries when needed.”

For more information about Fire Prevention Week and lithium-ion battery safety, visit fpw.org.