what should you do if you suspect a lithium-ion battery fire?

what should you do if you suspect a lithium-ion battery fire?

1. First, you need to know the phenomenon of lithium battery fire

(1.) In some cases, a lot of smoke will come out:

When a lithium battery catches fire, a lot of smoke will be produced quickly. These fumes may contain toxic gases, which pose a threat to human health. Therefore, 

during the evacuation process, you should try to keep a low posture and cover your mouth and nose with a wet cloth to reduce the inhalation of toxic gases.

(2.) A lot of sparks will pop out in the case of forced destruction or certain boost damage:

After a lithium battery catches fire, if the fire is large or the internal pressure of the battery increases sharply, a lot of sparks or fireballs may pop out. 

These sparks are high temperature and flammable, and can quickly ignite surrounding combustibles. Therefore, during the firefighting process, you should pay attention to 

keeping a safe distance and avoid using flammable items close to the fire source.

2. Determine whether a fire is about to break out or an internal fault has occurred

If it is a small device such as a mobile phone, the temperature of the battery can be felt by the hand. If it reaches the range that the hand can bear, it is naturally an internal fault.

At this time, the use should be temporarily stopped and the power should be cut off

If it is some large equipment, abnormalities are found during operation, such as insufficient power of some equipment or odor and smoke. 

At this time, the power should be cut off quickly to avoid the risk of fire

3. Countermeasures if a lithium-ion battery fire has been found or there is no way to deal with it urgently.

Immediately evacuate people: Lithium-ion battery fire may spread rapidly and produce toxic gases, so the first priority is to ensure the safety of people and evacuate them to a safe area quickly.

Cut off the power supply: If the fire device is still connected to the power supply, the power supply should be cut off immediately to prevent the fire from spreading or the risk of electric shock.

Alarm: Call the fire alarm quickly, report the fire, and inform the fire department that there is a lithium-ion battery fire on the scene so that the fire department can take appropriate fire-fighting measures.

Use appropriate fire-fighting equipment: If conditions permit and the individual has relevant knowledge and skills, you can try to use appropriate fire-fighting equipment for initial firefighting. 

However, please note that lithium-ion battery fires are special, and ordinary fire extinguishers may not be effective or may even aggravate the fire. 

Therefore, in the absence of professional knowledge and equipment, it is not recommended for individuals to take risks to put out the fire.

4. Matters to note

Avoid using water to extinguish the fire directly: Although water is a common fire extinguishing agent in conventional fires, using water to extinguish a lithium-ion battery 

fire may aggravate the fire or cause the risk of electric shock. Because water may conduct electricity and cause the battery to short-circuit or explode.

Avoid using ordinary dry powder fire extinguishers: Although ordinary dry powder fire extinguishers can extinguish flames, they cannot effectively prevent the thermal runaway process of 

lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, when lithium-ion batteries catch fire, professional fire-fighting equipment or methods should be given priority.

Seek professional help: Lithium-ion battery fires are complex and dangerous, and it is difficult for individuals to effectively extinguish them in the absence of professional knowledge and equipment. 

Therefore, when a lithium-ion battery fire is found, the police should be called in time and help from professional fire departments should be sought.

If a lithium-ion battery fire is suspected, emergency response measures should be taken immediately to ensure personnel safety, and the police should be called as soon as possible to seek professional help. 

At the same time, pay attention to observe fire phenomena and take appropriate protective measures to reduce hazards.