By Fire Chief Fred R. LaPoint
Two fires. Twelve days. One family in Meridian Township, Michigan, is learning the hard way that the devices we welcome into our homes and vehicles carry dangers most people don’t understand until it’s too late.
The first fire started in their vehicle—triggered by a simple set of headphones. The second, less than two weeks later, resulted in significant damage to their home. Both fires shared a common culprit: lithium-ion batteries, the power source now found in nearly every electronic device we own.
With Christmas just weeks away, millions of Americans will unwrap gifts containing these same batteries—hoverboards, e-bikes, power tools, gaming devices, tablets, smartwatches, portable speakers, and yes, wireless headphones. And many of them will become fire hazards sitting in our homes.
Why Traditional Firefighting Fails
I need to tell you something that might surprise you: if a lithium-ion battery fire starts in your home, your typical fire extinguisher is nearly useless.
Here’s why: When lithium-ion batteries fail, they don’t just burn—they undergo thermal runaway. The battery cells superheat and release their energy in a cascading chain reaction. They produce their own oxygen as they burn, so even a fully discharged ABC or BC extinguisher won’t effectively suppress the fire. These fires burn at extreme temperatures (up to 1,000°F or more) and can reignite hours or even days after you think they’re out. They do make extinguishers specifically for this purpose.
But the bigger danger isn’t the flames you can see—it’s what you can’t see.
The Invisible Killer
Lithium-ion battery fires release a toxic cocktail of gases, including hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, and carbon monoxide. These aren’t just smoke—they’re poison. Hydrogen fluoride, for instance, can cause severe respiratory damage and chemical burns to your lungs at concentrations that won’t immediately knock you down.
While you’re standing there with your fire extinguisher trying to fight a fire that won’t quit, you’re breathing in compounds that can cause lasting harm to your respiratory system. And in an enclosed space like a bedroom or garage, those concentrations build up fast.
What You Should Do Instead
My advice is simple: Don’t waste precious seconds trying to extinguish a lithium-ion battery fire. Get out, and get out now, then stay out.
Here’s your action plan:
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Alert everyone in the home immediately – Use your voice, not your phone
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Get everyone out – Leave everything behind
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Close doors behind you if possible – This slows fire spread
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Call 911 from outside – We have the equipment and training to handle these fires
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Do not re-enter for any reason – Not for pets, not for possessions, not to “check” if it’s out
The time you spend trying to fight that fire is time you should be spending getting your family to safety. That’s not cowardice—that’s survival.
Prevention: Your Best Defense
Since fighting these fires isn’t realistic for homeowners, prevention becomes critical:
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Only use manufacturer-approved chargers and cables – Aftermarket accessories are a leading cause of battery failures and fires
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Never charge devices on/under beds, couches, or other flammable surfaces – Charge on hard, non-flammable surfaces like ceramic tile or metal
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Don’t charge devices overnight while you sleep – Charge during waking hours when you can monitor them
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Stop using any device with a swollen battery immediately – This is a critical warning sign
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Store devices and batteries away from exits – Don’t let a battery fire block your escape route
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Keep devices away from extreme temperatures – Don’t leave them in hot cars or freezing garages
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Inspect gifts before the first charge – Look for damage from shipping
This Holiday Season
As you shop for gifts or unwrap devices this Christmas, remember the Meridian Township family. Their experience should serve as a wake-up call. The smartphone under the tree, the electric scooter in the garage, the power tool in the workshop—they’re all incredibly useful, but they all carry risk.
Make sure everyone in your family knows the sound of your smoke alarms and has a practiced escape plan. Make sure they understand that if they hear an alarm or see smoke from a charging device, they don’t try to be heroes—they get out.
I’ve seen what happens when people prioritize property over safety. I’ve also seen what happens when they make the right choice and get out fast. I know which outcome I want for you and your family.
Stay safe this holiday season. And remember: the best fire is the one that never starts.
Help Me Spread This Message
If you found this article useful—or if it made you look twice at that charging phone on your nightstand—please share it. Every structure fire call we respond to is someone’s worst day, and Christmas morning shouldn’t end with a 911 call.
Please consider forwarding this to anyone shopping for electronics this season, or share it in your neighborhood and community groups. If sharing this article prevents even one family from experiencing that worst day, it’s worth it.
The information here isn’t complicated, but it could save a life. Maybe even your own.
Fire Chief Fred R. LaPoint leads the Stronach Township Fire Department in Manistee County, Michigan.
This article first appeared in Behind The Alarm, the newsletter of Fred R. LaPoint, Fire Chief Paramedic of the Stronach Township Fire Department, on November 16, 2025. Read the original.