Fire investigators say perfect conditions for a battery fire are found often in junk drawers containing loose batteries and metal objects like paper clips or keys. Take steps to prevent this problem and reduce fire risk: Do not store batteries in a metal container. It’s a simple move to protect your house from a common but very real risk. In July 2012, a New Hampshire family sustained fire damage to their home following the unintentional ignition of 9-volt batteries stored in a junk drawer. I like to help people find unique ways to do things that will save time & money — so I write about “outside the box” Household Tips and Life Hacks that most wouldn’t think of. 9-volt batteries (like those used in your smoke detectors) can cause a fire and destroy your house — just like they destroyed this family’s house: Any time two 9-volt batteries touch (on the terminals on top of the batteries), they can create a charge, build enough heat, and burst into flames. Alicia says they were told by investigators that the fire was caused by batteries in the drawer which set fire to dishtowels. When recharging batteries in a charger, don’t mix rechargeable and disposable batteries. I’m also a lifelong dog owner -- so I often share my favorite tips for living with dogs inside your home (like smart home design choices and dog-friendly cleaning & decorating ideas). I like to help people find unique ways to do things that will save time & money -- so I write about "outside the box" Household Tips and Life Hacks that most wouldn't think of. When lithium-ion cells reach 302°F, the cell becomes thermally unstable, and flaming gases are released. A few have over 2M shares; many others have over 100K shares. And I LOVE to clean! Most people do, and most of us probably don’t give a second thought to what we put in it. Here’s How We Found The Best Anti-Fog Shower Mirror That’s Lasted 10+ Years! A few have over 2M shares; many others have over 100K shares. Don’t keep 9-volt batteries outside of their original packaging. My husband (who shaves his bald head every single day) finally... Where To Get Moving Boxes For Free And For Sale. … … This fire spread to the whole battery module. To reduce the hazard simply place a piece of electrical tape over the end of the battery when storing or disposing of the battery. Chief MacCaffrie says there are easy solutions. An NBC News investigation found that 18650 lithium ion batteries that can cause a fire hazard if sold individually are being sold on multiple major websites. put a strip of electrical tape over the battery terminals, put a rubberband around batteries of all one size. You won’t believe what caused the fire in this man’s home. There’s no need to stop using 9-volt batteries. The battery warning surprised homeowners. To keep your home safe use these battery storage tips: Whatever you do, don’t leave loose 9-volt batteries lying around — either for future use or waiting to be recycled. Prevent Battery Fires with Proper Storage Even batteries with a small voltage like commonly used AA and AAA alkaline batteries can start a fire under the right conditions. Feb. … Do not store common household items such as steel wool, aluminum foil, and keys near 9-volt batteries. If a metallic object touches the two poles of a 9-volt battery, it can cause a short circuit. 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Career-wise, I’ve been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started… and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). Or, keep your batteries neatly separated in a battery organizer. Here’s more proof: Here’s more proof: Don’t believe there’s enough charge in a 9-volt battery to create heat, and ultimately a fire? The main cause of these fires is lithium-ion batteries, which we delve into deeply with my special guest this month, Ronald Butler. “We didn’t know that,” she said. Or, secure batteries in a rubberband first. (KSNB) — Some of us may have that kitchen junk drawer that has loose batteries, tools, and other items in it, but these drawers might be a fire waiting to happen. This can make enough heat to start a fire. The loose batteries sparked a fire that could have destroyed his Charlottetown, P.E.I., home. And be sure to put them in a plastic bag so they don’t touch metal objects, like keys, which can cause electrical shorting. ©2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. In about 10 minutes, it had already browned the tissue. This can create enough heat to start a fire. 9V batteries can be a hazard if the double terminal comes in contact with metal objects; an electrical spark can be created causing a fire. The Storacell Battery Caddy provides the best terminal protection at both ends. Today’s Popular Ionization Smoke Detectors Often Don’t Even Sound Their Alarms! I'm super-organized. If you store batteries loosely in bags or outside of their original packaging, then, If you want to be super organized with your battery storage, do something like. Here's How We Found The Best Anti-Fog Shower Mirror That's Lasted 10+ Years! A towel or curtains hanging too close to an unattended stove can ignite. This is the ultimate list of where to get moving boxes for free AND for sale. Do you keep extra household batteries in a junk drawer, or in a bag? I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV. Prior to that, I worked in Higher Ed over 10 years before switching gears to pursue activities that I'm truly passionate about instead. When laptops are plugged in, charging, and placed on a flat surface like a bed or a couch cushion, they can get very hot very quickly. When I’m not cleaning, organizing, decorating, or fixing something… you’ll find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). KKK It is unsafe to store 9-volt batteries in a drawer near paper clips, coins, pens, or other batteries. Especially don’t store 9v batteries loosely in drawers or in bags. Yes, two 9v batteries touching can start a fire! Chief MacCaffrie put items like keys, the clip of a pen and paper clips on the battery and set it next to a tissue. PITTSBURGH (CBS) — Do you have a “junk drawer” somewhere in your house? Your “junk” drawers are often found in the kitchen where spare batteries, cords and stuff is kept. With fire extinguishers and a crew standing by, Chief Kevin MacCaffrie demonstrated. I’m also a lifelong dog owner — so I often share my favorite tips for living with dogs inside your home (like smart home design choices and dog-friendly cleaning & decorating ideas). Truth is, if any metal items inside your junk drawer happen to bump a 9-volt battery stored inside that drawer, then a fire could happen. A friend told me that batteries touching together in a drawer can cause a fire. Prior to that, I worked in Higher Ed over 10 years before switching gears to pursue activities that I’m truly passionate about instead. If the terminals touch each other, the life of the batteries can be shortened. Now I'm paranoid and have all my batteries lined up on a surface, none of them touching. HASTINGS, Neb. 9V batteries can be a hazard if the double terminal comes in contact with metal objects; an electrical spark can be created causing a fire. The aftermath of a fire started by overheated batteries in a drawer at Damien Morris's home. If the negative and positive posts of the batteries come in contact with something metal, heat begins to build. Ideally, you should keep batteries in their original packaging — because it was designed to keep the battery terminals from touching. In a survival book I saw two D cells stacked together, using steel wool to connect the opposite ends, and it did make sparks. In minutes, the battery heated up. MAYBE IN A BATTERY COLLECTION FOR RECYCLE BAG. Moving soon? Plus the places you should NOT get moving boxes from! The best way to prevent this from happening in your home is to place a piece of electrical tape over the terminals of old batteries before you dispose of them. UPDATE: This applies to ALL batteries, new or used. When they opened it up, flames flared up. A fire that flared up in the “junk drawer” of an east side home is believed to be caused by an exposed 9-volt battery coming into contact with a metal object. At some point I began keeping batteries (AA, AAA, 9V, etc) inside a random drawer in my wardrobe that I use for other electronics (like cables, pen drives, etc.). “Don’t let them roll against the screwdriver, because it can just transfer onto another battery … “There’s a lot of things in a normal junk drawer that do burn, and apparently the ignition source was a 9-volt battery.”. They also, occasionally, catch on fire. “My husband nor I would even think of that.”. The same process works even faster with steel wool. I remember, as a child, licking 9v batteries as part of a science experiment. 9-volt batteries can be dangerous. Do This NOW To Prevent A Fire In Your Clothes Dryer, Dryer Sheets Should NOT Be Used With Flame-Retardant Fabrics Like Kids Clothing, Storing Household Batteries For The Long Term, franklin.thefuntimesguide.com/the_face_behind_the_blog/. And I've started to worry that they might randomly arrange themselves (they roll a lot when I open and close the drawer) into a short circuit inside the drawer and start a fire. A fire at an Amherst, New Hampshire home is being blamed on a battery, paper clips, post-it notes, and other items stashed in a junk drawer. If batteries touch in the wrong way, they might catch fire and cause a lot of damage. 9 volt battery leads can touch metal or other 9 volt tips, heat and start a fire in a junk drawer. 650AM: Batteries in junk drawer spark house fire This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Do you know... link to Need A Shower Shaving Mirror? Experts say it’s also dangerous to store 9-volt batteries in containers with other batteries. Start here! “There’s a lot of things in a normal junk drawer that do burn, and apparently the ignition source was a 9-volt battery.” Chief MacCaffrie put items like keys, the clip of a pen and paper clips on the battery and set it next to a tissue. When I’m not cleaning, organizing, decorating, or fixing something… you'll find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). Morris said emergency crews arrived and the fire marshal determined that the 'C' and 'D' size batteries he had stored in the drawer had started the fire. When the bag was moved, the batteries’ terminals contacted one another, causing the fire. “Just take a piece of electrical tape and put it across the battery and you have no chance,” he said. If you do store 9-volt batteries loosely, then place a piece of electrical tape over the battery terminals first. I even enjoy doing laundry (but not ironing). Potential Cooking Fire. Career-wise, I've been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started... and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). What causes laptop batteries to overheat and cause a laptop fire? Fires have often been linked to junk drawers in houses where exposed 9-volt batteries came into contact with steel wool. The positive and negative poles are very close together. What is a way to store them without any risk of fire? Here’s more proof: Don’t believe there’s enough charge in a 9-volt battery to create heat, and ultimately a fire? In minutes, the battery heated up. Need A Shower Shaving Mirror? I’m super-organized. Batteries left rolling around in a drawer, bag or container have the potential to cause a fire. As long as two 9v batteries are not touching one another on the positive and negative terminal ends — or positioned close enough to one another to create a charge — they’re completely harmless. But we probably should since there may be items that when thrown in together can start a fire. To date, I’ve personally written over 200 articles about cleaning, organization, DIY repairs, and household hacks on this site! People have all sorts of stuff in a “junk drawer.” But one of those things could cause a fire – a 9-volt battery. “I suggest you not touch that battery,” he said. Engine Company 14 responded to the 4200 block of Jerome Street, where homeowners said they noticed smoke coming from a drawer in their kitchen. I even enjoy doing laundry (but not ironing). Pass it on! A fire department in Newton, NH took to Facebook to warn local residents of this frightening fire hazard and if their warning doesn't convince you … THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!! After putting up Christmas decorations this year, Damien Morris had some extra batteries left over and did what many people do – tossed them in a drawer … Batteries left rolling around in a drawer, bag or container have the potential to cause a fire. Source. And I LOVE to clean! Key Causes of Fire 7 • Molten material from a faulty cell leaked and caused a short between battery cells in an adjoining block. If a metal object touches the two posts of a 9-volt battery, it can cause a short circuit. “Don’t let them just roll in there,” Big G Ace Hardware Store Manager Linda Dill said. Here’s how that happens. The Storacell Battery Caddy provides the best terminal protection at both ends. In fact, a house fire in July in New Hampshire was caused by a 9-volt battery that was stored in a plastic bag with other batteries and rubbed up against them, igniting the fire. See Why + My Favorite Glass Storage Bowls. 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