New Extinguishers to Depower Battery Fires

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The Cayuga Heights Fire Department has added two new fire extinguishers specifically designed to help fight lithium-ion battery fires.

Lithium-ion batteries are now found everywhere—from cell phones and laptops to e-bikes, e-scooters, power tools, and countless other devices. As their use has increased, fire departments are seeing more fires involving these batteries. These incidents can be extremely difficult to control using traditional firefighting techniques.

Our new extinguishers use a non-toxic extinguishing agent designed specifically for lithium-ion battery fires. They are intended for smaller battery incidents involving devices such as:

• Cell phones

• Laptops and tablets

• E-bikes

• E-scooters

• Other small rechargeable battery-powered devices

  
  

These extinguishers are not designed to control a large or well-developed fire. Instead, they give our firefighters another option for quickly attacking a smaller lithium-ion battery fire, with the goal of controlling it before it grows or spreads to surrounding materials.

As the technology in our homes, businesses, and community continues to change, the fire service needs to change with it. These extinguishers are another tool at our disposal to help CHFD respond safely and effectively to the fire risks associated with emerging technologies.

New technology creates new challenges—and we continue to adapt our equipment and training to meet them.