Global News published an alarming story we wanted to pass on, especially with so many families putting up Christmas lights. A Charlottetown, Canada family had a few lithium batteries left over after putting up their decorations. So they tossed them into their ‘ in case ’ kitchen drawer and went to bed for a peaceful night’s sleep.
Then Smoke Detectors Picked Up a Problem in the Kitchen Drawer
The smoke detectors started going off at around 2:30 in the morning. The wife woke and told her partner, “honey I smell something weird”, or words to that effect. They went downstairs to find the whole place filled with acrid smoke.
Finally they traced the source to the kitchen, where the kitchen drawer with the spare batteries was billowing smoke. “I opened the drawer and it all went in flames. Then I shut it quick. I grabbed the drawer and got my wife to open the patio door and I threw it outside,” Damien Morris told the reporter.
Lithium Battery Set on Fire by Short Circuiting
Health Canada Explains What Went Wrong in the Morris House
Emergency crews arrived shortly after. The fire marshal determined that the ‘C’ and ‘D’ size batteries stored in the kitchen drawer had started the fire. “The two male ends of the batteries connected, creating heat energy and caught the combustible dish towels on fire,” he explained.
Health Canada had over a hundred complaints this year of lithium batteries overheating and starting fires. In July, a Labrador family lost their house after a toy car caught alight. Therefore, the Morris family was fortunate to get away with burned kitchen cabinetry and smoke damage.
Raynald Marchand, general manager of the Canada Safety Council told Global News that a single battery can cause a fire. This happen if it short circuits through a wet towel, or other conductor that allows the energy to flow. “Batteries need to be stored properly in their original container, or other non-conductive packaging to prevent them from being shorted,” he advised.
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Preview Image: Please Be Safe with Christmas Decorations
Video Share Link: Lithium Battery Set on Fire by Short Circuiting
