Firefighters are dealing with a significant increase in the number of fires caused by overheating electronic devices.
In an interview with TVA Nouvelles, the spokesperson for the Quebec Fire Protection Service, Jean-François Daigle, recounted a fire that occurred in Limoilou last summer and which was caused by an electronic device . Fifteen people had been evacuated from their homes.
“It’s electronic equipment that contained a battery inside, a lithium battery that was the cause,” explains Mr. Daigle.
Such fires can be caused by scooters, bicycles, electric scooters, smart phones, tablets or laptops. These are devices powered by lithium-ion batteries.
“These are devices that are not normally dangerous in the state in which they are received. According to the wear that we make of them, according to the maintenance that we do, they can represent dangers”, indicates the spokesperson for the Montreal Fire Department, Louise Desrosiers.
To protect yourself from the risk of fire, you must remain present when recharging a device and respect the maximum time allowed for recharging. It is also important to protect the battery from potential heat sources and to read the manufacturer’s instructions.
“These devices, it’s really important to make sure you understand how to use them,” says Ms. Desrosiers.
As for electric bicycles or scooters, it is recommended to use the original charger. As for electric vehicles, fires are fortunately not frequent.
“We are talking regarding a 0.03% chance that an electric vehicle has a problem with the battery and that it burns out versus a 3% for gasoline-powered vehicles,” says the president of the Association of Electric Vehicles of Quebec, Simon-Pierre Rioux.
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