Surrey Woman Warns of Lithium-Ion Battery Dangers After Home Explosion

An explosion at a Surrey residence has prompted a woman to issue a warning regarding the hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries. Denise Graovac, residing in Thames Ditton, recounted to BBC Radio Surrey that her daughter heard a loud bang after she had left a handheld vacuum cleaner charging without supervision in her garage. “There was a fire in my garage,” Denise stated, further noting that the appliance had “totally melted.” The Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) reported an increase in fires linked to batteries over the last five years, with 55 occurrences recorded since September alone. This figure was contrasted by the service with 53 incidents throughout 2023, 20 in 2022, and 13 in 2021. Lithium-ion batteries are components commonly found in devices such as smartphones, laptops, e-bikes, and electric vehicles. These batteries present a significant fire hazard if they are damaged, improperly handled, or charged incorrectly; older batteries may also spontaneously combust without prior warning. Ms. Graovac advised: “Be very careful what you leave plugged in.” She added, “They can explode at any time and they can cause loss of property and even possibly loss of life. “You’ve got to be aware of what you’ve got in your house because they can be dangerous.”” An SFRS spokesperson indicated that the frequency of such incidents “could rise year-on-year with the increased use of lithium-ion batteries in everyday household items.” The service noted that fires originating from these batteries are capable of rapid spread and can be challenging to put out. Recommendations from the service included avoiding overcharging, ensuring safe storage, checking for damage, and proper disposal of the batteries. Station Commander Steve Love commented: “Lithium-ion batteries come with risks. “By taking raising awareness, we hope to reduce the number of incidents.”” BBC Surrey can be followed on Facebook and X. Story ideas may be sent to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 08081 002250. Copyright for this content is held by BBC, 2024. All rights are reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites and provides information regarding its approach to external linking.