After the storm: hidden fire risks in your garage

AccuWeather

After Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit Florida, nearly 100 lithium battery fires were reported across the state. Officials warn the danger isn't just EVs-it's anything with a battery left in floodwater.

Transcript

00:00Fire officials say storm-related fires can go far beyond electric vehicles.

00:05Batteries and everything from hoverboards to hedge tremors can catch fire days or weeks after floodwaters have receded.

00:13And fire officials are warning with the peak of hurricane season here,

00:16if it has a lithium battery, get it out of your house or your garage.

00:20Last hurricane season, there were roughly 85 lithium battery fires statewide, 17 of them involving electric vehicles.

00:28But the rest were tied to scooters, e-bikes, and even yard tools.

00:33Fire investigators say many consumers are simply not aware of the risks these smaller devices can have.

00:38All of those lithium batteries are just as dangerous as that large EV.

00:44You know, small fires turn into big fires.

00:47What we did see in the wake of the storms and flooding last year was a much higher rate of lithium battery failure

00:54due to submersion after the storm passed, where we see these batteries in every garage,

01:02almost every household, back porches, Florida rooms.

01:06Salt water is significantly worse for lithium-ion batteries than fresh water

01:11because its dissolved salts act as an electrical conductor,

01:14readily causing short circuits, corrosion, and higher risk of thermal runaway,

01:19which is a chain reaction that can cause the battery to explode or burn for hours after it's been flooded.

01:26Now, if a storm threatens your area, fire officials say to keep those items at least 50 feet away from any structure

01:32and have that charge at 30 percent or less in the event it catches fire.

01:38In Orange County, Florida, I'm Leslie Hudson reporting for AccuWeather.

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