{"id":2960,"date":"2019-06-20T07:00:21","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T11:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=2960"},"modified":"2019-06-13T16:03:39","modified_gmt":"2019-06-13T20:03:39","slug":"what-is-the-fastest-and-safest-method-for-putting-out-a-lithium-ion-battery-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/06\/20\/what-is-the-fastest-and-safest-method-for-putting-out-a-lithium-ion-battery-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;What is the fastest and safest method for putting out a lithium-ion battery fire?&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em><small>(Answer requested by Richard Janezic)<\/small><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LI-ion batteries are considered Class B (flammable liquids\/gases) fire hazards (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fire_class\">info<\/a>). LI-ion fires are ferocious, and the gases are nasty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If there&#8217;s a fire, unplug the device (if plugged in), call the fire department, and then use an ABC- or BC-rated fire extinguisher (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fire_extinguisher#United_States\">info<\/a>) to suppress the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a pinch, use sand, clay cat litter, baking soda, or (last resort) water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the air gets bad or the fire starts to spread, just leave. Things can be replaced, but lives cannot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YuKF8XfCVKQ?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:right\" class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em><strong>Permalink: <a href=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=2960\">https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=2960<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"104\" height=\"6\" data-attachment-id=\"1999\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/10\/around-boston-the-nearly-snowless-winter-continues\/seperator-short-grey\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?fit=104%2C6&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"104,6\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"SEPERATOR short grey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?fit=104%2C6&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?resize=104%2C6\" alt=\"[seperator]\" class=\"wp-image-1999\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:left\"><strong>COMMENT \/ QUESTION<\/strong>  on <strong>THIS ITEM?<\/strong> <em>See the<\/em> <strong>Comment box<\/strong> <em>at bottom of this page!<\/em><br><b><em><br><\/em>NEW QUESTION? <\/b><em>Ask<\/em><b> <u><font color=\"#000117\"><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a><\/font><\/u><\/b>!<br><br>(<em>Want free notification of new content? Click<\/em><b><strong> <\/strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/09\/09\/get-free-automatic-notification-of-new-content\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a><\/b>!)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Answer requested by Richard Janezic) LI-ion batteries are considered Class B (flammable liquids\/gases) fire hazards (info). LI-ion fires are ferocious, and the gases are nasty. If there&#8217;s a fire, unplug the device (if plugged in), call the fire department, and then use an ABC- or BC-rated fire extinguisher (info) to suppress the fire. In a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7,30,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2960","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-reader-asks","category-hardware","category-science-and-tech"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paaiox-LK","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2980,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/06\/21\/update-on-lithium-ion-fire-suppression-in-small-devices\/","url_meta":{"origin":2960,"position":0},"title":"Update on Lithium-ion fire suppression in small devices","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-06-21","format":false,"excerpt":"After reading \"What is the fastest and safest method for putting out a lithium-ion battery fire?\", frequent correspondent \"App\" wrote: According to the FAA, water is not a last resort\u2026it\u2019s your first choice, because you don\u2019t only want to put the fire out, you want to cool it, too. So\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Reader Comment&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Reader Comment","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/reader-comment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/20190621_103107.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/20190621_103107.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/20190621_103107.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/20190621_103107.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/20190621_103107.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/20190621_103107.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3551,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/10\/08\/is-there-any-way-to-revive-an-over-discharged-li-ion-18650-battery\/","url_meta":{"origin":2960,"position":1},"title":"&#8220;Is there any way to revive an over-discharged Li-Ion 18650 battery?&#8221;","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-10-08","format":false,"excerpt":"Not a good idea. The protective circuitry (in the Li-ion battery or in the device that the battery powers) is designed to prevent dangerous over- and undercharging, which can cause the battery to overheat and catch fire. (Remember all those hoverboard fires a couple years ago? That's what you get\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/18650-batteries.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1599,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/12\/a-reader-asks-can-you-take-your-electric-assisted-bicycle-with-you-on-a-train-or-a-plane-in-the-united-states\/","url_meta":{"origin":2960,"position":2},"title":"A reader asks: &#8220;Can you take your electric assisted bicycle with you on a train or a plane in the United States?&#8221;","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-01-12","format":false,"excerpt":"If you can remove the batteries, then an e-bike is just like any other bike, and is subject to the same rules. A battery-less, totally inert e-bike can be shipped by almost any means. Li-ion batteries, if damaged or defective, can cause a very serious, very energetic chemical fire. That's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5057,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/21\/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-replace-immediately-a-swollen-lithium-ion-battery\/","url_meta":{"origin":2960,"position":3},"title":"&#8220;What will happen if I don&#8217;t replace immediately a swollen lithium ion battery?&#8221;","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2020-05-21","format":false,"excerpt":"(Answer requested by Arnielyn Arellano) When a Li-ion battery bulges, it usually means a near-failure generated toxic, flammable gases. Your battery's case did its job --- it contained the gases so far --- but at very high internal pressure (hence the swelling). In other words, your battery\u2019s near-failure has turned\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/0nrsoMsEMNU\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4771,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2020\/04\/15\/why-are-battery-arrays-often-made-with-cylindrical-batteries-rather-than-square-prisms-so-they-could-pack-even-better\/","url_meta":{"origin":2960,"position":4},"title":"&#8220;Why are battery arrays often made with cylindrical batteries rather than square prisms so they could pack even better?&#8221;","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2020-04-15","format":false,"excerpt":"The working guts of Li-ion batteries start as flat sheets. For many heavier-duty and general purpose applications, these sheets are rolled into cylinders because a cylindrical battery can be safer than a flat one: Stacked cylinders allow spaces between them, which can be used to keep hard-working batteries safely cool\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/18650-batteries.jpg?fit=241%2C256&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2505,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/04\/08\/how-to-make-lithium-ion-batteries-last-for-years\/","url_meta":{"origin":2960,"position":5},"title":"How to make lithium-ion batteries last for years","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-04-08","format":false,"excerpt":"The older column reprinted below was originally published in the August 13, 2015 , Windows Secrets newsletter. This older content supplements brand-new content posted today (April 8, 2019) in the AskWoody Plus newsletter, available here. An upcoming column will update and refine the information below. (I\u2019m reprinting selected Windows Secrets\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AskWoody Plus&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AskWoody Plus","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/askwoody-plus\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/W20150813-TS-BatteryFromTop.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2960","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2960"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2960\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2961,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2960\/revisions\/2961"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2960"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2960"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2960"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}